{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T17:20:26Z","timestamp":1792603226096,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1776643200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Mol. Biosci."],"abstract":"\n Introduction<\/jats:title>\n \n Prostate Cancer-3 (PC-3) cells, commonly used as a model for aggressive, androgen-independent prostate cancer, display numerous genetic alterations that contribute to advanced disease, including the loss of tumor suppressors and dysregulated inflammatory signaling. Recent evidence has highlighted the pleiotropic roles of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) in promoting tumor cell proliferation, adhesion, and stress resistance. This study aimed to investigate the functional and molecular effects of\n LCN2<\/jats:italic>\n depletion in PC-3 cells.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n \n We conducted a genetic analysis of both the parental PC-3 cell line and a newly created\n LCN2<\/jats:italic>\n -deficient PC-3 clone #1 (PC-3 LCN2-KO#1), developed using CRISPR\/Cas9 technology. Short tandem repeat (STR) analyses confirmed the authenticity and lineage of each cell line, while next-generation sequencing coupled with RT-qPCR validation was used to identify differentially expressed genes and any potential genomic changes resulting from the CRISPR\/Cas9 editing process.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results and Discussion<\/jats:title>\n \n Our analysis aligned with our previous findings showing that\n LCN2<\/jats:italic>\n is involved in inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress responses, and cytoskeletal organization. Previously we have shown that\n LCN2<\/jats:italic>\n -deficient cells exhibited decreased invasiveness, disrupted F-actin dynamics, and increased sensitivity to stress-inducing conditions. Consistent with these observations, spectral karyotyping (SKY) and analysis of spontaneously occurring micronuclei revealed an elevated level of chromosomal aberrations in the\n LCN2<\/jats:italic>\n -deficient cell line. These results emphasize the significance of\n LCN2<\/jats:italic>\n in driving prostate cancer aggressiveness and provide a foundation for exploring targeted interventions that disrupt\n LCN2<\/jats:italic>\n -mediated pathways in advanced disease.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fmolb.2026.1730948","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]],"date-time":"2026-04-20T09:16:35Z","timestamp":1776676595000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Functional and genomic characterization of LCN2-deficient PC-3 cells reveals insights into prostate cancer progression"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Kiara","family":"G\u00e4berlein","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University of W\u00fcrzburg","place":["W\u00fcrzburg, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Diandra T.","family":"Keller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen","place":["Aachen, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarah K.","family":"Schr\u00f6der-Lange","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen","place":["Aachen, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Phillipp","family":"Torkler","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Computer Science, Deggendorf Institute of Technology","place":["Deggendorf, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dominik G.","family":"Grimm","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"TUM Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability, Technical University of Munich & Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences","place":["Straubing, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Claus","family":"Steinlein","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Clinical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University Hospital W\u00fcrzburg","place":["W\u00fcrzburg, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Thomas","family":"Haaf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University of W\u00fcrzburg","place":["W\u00fcrzburg, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Indrajit","family":"Nanda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Clinical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, University Hospital W\u00fcrzburg","place":["W\u00fcrzburg, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ralf","family":"Weiskirchen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), RWTH University Hospital Aachen","place":["Aachen, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"430","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2016.00430","article-title":"Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) expression in hepatic malfunction and therapy","volume":"7","author":"Asimakopoulou","year":"2016","journal-title":"Front. 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