The effect of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 21 on proliferation, migration, and invasion in DU145 cells

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Although ubiquitin-specific peptidase 21 (USP21) has been shown to promote the development of various cancers, its role in prostate cancer has been poorly reported. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate the involvement of USP21 in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) progression. Methods Information from public databases was used to evaluate the pattern of USP21 expression in PRAD tissues and its effect on patient prognosis. Subsequently, we either upregulated or knocked down USP21 expression in the human PRAD cell line DU145 to assess cell growth, migration, invasiveness, and apoptosis. Results The transcript levels of USP21 in PRAD tissues were low, indicating a poor prognosis. In DU145 cells, USP21 silencing impaired cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle progression, migratory capacity, and invasiveness, while it increased rates of apoptosis. Furthermore, cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were all induced by upregulating USP21. In addition, gene enrichment analysis revealed that USP21 had the potential to regulate cell adhesion and the cell cycle. This observation was further validated by the detection of expression of related genes in cells with either knockdown or increased USP21 expression levels. The expression and copy numbers of USP21 were significantly correlated with the infiltration levels of immune cells. Conclusions Expression level of USP21 is associated with PRAD progression and poor prognosis, and may have a role in potential therapeutic strategies for patients with PRAD.