Fig. 4

PABPC1 mediates IFI27 to promote ESCC malignancy. A Scatter plot of the top 20 KEGG pathway enrichment of DEGs after PABPC1 transfection. The enrichment factor is the ratio of the DEG number to the background number in a corresponding pathway. The size of the dots represents the number of genes, and the color of the dots represents the range of the q-value. B Expression of the indicated protein was detected in PABPC1-overexpressing or knockdown ESCC cell lines. C The top DEGs are listed in the heatmaps. D IFI27 mRNA expression levels were determined by qRT-PCR in ESCC cells overexpressing PABPC1 or with PABPC1 knockdown. E IFI27 protein expression levels were determined by western blotting in ESCC cells overexpressing PABPC1 or with PABPC1 knockdown. F IFI27 and PABPC1 protein expression was detected by immunofluorescence (scale bar: 20 µm). G Transwell assays were performed to determine cell invasion by the indicated transfected KYSE150 cells (scale bars: 200 µm). H Capillary tube formation assay of HUVECs treated with exosomes from PABPC1-overexpressing or PABPC1 knockdown ESCC cells. I Tumor volume and weight of xenografts derived from the indicated KYSE150 cell group (one of the mice in the shIFI27 group had two masses). J Expression of PABPC1 and IFI27 was detected by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of ESCC patients (scale bars: 200 µm, 100 µm). Expression of PABPC1 was positively correlated with IFI27. K Kaplan–Meier analysis indicating the patients with both high expression of PABPC1 and IFI27 have the worst survival, and patients with weak expression of both PABPC1 and IFI27 have better survival. Data represent the mean ± SD of 3 separate determinations. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 by Student’s t test