Fig. 4

Notch1 pathway, downstream component of PSMD7, facilitates the role of PSMD7 in PC cells. (A) GSEA outcomes were graphed to show the association between genes linked to the Notch1 signalling pathway and PSMD7 expression. (B) and (C) The HES1 and Notch1 mRNA expression levels were assayed by qRT-PCR with PSMD7 overexpression in SW 1990 cells or knockdown in PANC-1 cells. (D) and (E) Protein levels of Notch1 along with its target genes (including HES1) were measured via western blotting after PSMD7 overexpression in SW 1990 cells or silencing in PANC-1 cells. (F) and (G) Luciferase activities were examined after transfection of sh-PSMD7 and the corresponding luciferase reporter plasmids in PSMD7-overexpressing SW 1990 cells or PANC-1 cells. (H) Expression of HES1, Notch1, and PSMD7 in PC cells that were co-transfected with Notch1 and sh-PSMD7. (I) and (J) EdU and CCK-8 analysis of cell proliferation in PANC-1 cells that expressed shPSMD7 or shNC, with or without overexpression of Notch1. (K) Expression of HES1, Notch1, and PSMD7 in PC cells that were co-transfected with sh-Notch1 and Flag-PSMD7. (L) and (M) EdU and CCK-8 analysis of cell proliferation in SW 1990 cells that expressed exogenous PSMD7 or control vector, with or without shNotch1 transfection. (N) Mice that were injected with luciferase-expressing PANC-1/Notch1, PANC-1/shPSMD7, PANC-1/shNC, or PANC-1/shPSMD7 + Notch1 cells were evaluated via IVIS imaging system. (O) Tumour volumes in the PANC-1/Notch1, PANC-1/shPSMD7, PANC-1/shNC, or PANC-1/shPSMD7 + Notch1 groups. Volumes of tumours are represented as mean ± SD, n = 6; (P) Tumour weight in the PANC-1/Notch1, PANC-1/shPSMD7, PANC-1/shNC, or PANC-1/shPSMD7 + Notch1 group. n = 6. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01