EXPRESSION OF THE LOW-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR (LDLR) GENE FAMILY IN CD133+/CD44+ PROSTATE CANCER STEM CELLS

Purpose: The low-density lipoprotein receptor gene (LDLR) family plays a fundamental role in many malignancies and may have a putative cancer-boosting function. In our study, we have attempted to comparatively investigate the differential gene expressions of LDLR family in a normal prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1), prostate cancer cell line (DU145 cell line), prostate cancer stem cells (DU145 CSCs), and non-CSCs (DU145 non-CSCs, bulk population). Material and Methods: Cancer stem cells in the DU-145 prostate cancer cell line were isolated by flow cytometry according to CD133 and CD44 cell surface properties. Whole transcriptome sequencing data was comprehensively analyzed for each group. The protein-protein interaction network was determined using the STRING protein database. Results: Our data showed that the expression levels of Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related proteins (LRPs) such as LRP1, LRP3, LRP8 and, LRP11 were increased in the DU145 CSCs relative to the normal prostate epithelial cell line. Conclusion: Overall, our data suggest that the LRP functions and/or the expression in prostate cancer may ultimately change the invasive phenotype of the CSCs.