Fig 1: (a) GSEA demonstrated that the apical junction complex–related gene set, cell-adhesion molecular-binding–related gene set, cytoplasmic dynein complex–related gene set, microfilament motor activity–related gene set, protein O-linked glycosylation–related gene set, and tight junction–related gene set were notably enriched in the MBOAT2 high-expression group. (b) GSEA demonstrated that the leukocyte activation involved in inflammatory response–related gene set, positive T-cell selection, regulation of antigen processing and presentation–related gene set, and TCR complex–related gene set were obviously enriched in the MBOAT2 low-expression group. (c) Pathway enrichment analysis suggested that MBOAT2 may participate in PC, the Ras signaling pathway, the TCR signaling pathway, Adherens junction interactions, cell–cell communication, and cell junction organization.
Fig 2: (a) The ESTIMATE algorithm revealed that the MBOAT2 level was positively correlated with tumor purity (Cor = 0.37, P = 3.8e - 07) but negatively correlated with immune score (Cor = -0.38, P = 2.7e - 07). (b) The CIBERSORT algorithm revealed that MBOAT2 overexpression is remarkably connected to the low infiltration level of CD8+ T-cells in the TME of PC (Cor = -0.41, P = 2.0e - 06). (c) A correlation analysis between MBOAT2 level and immune-related terms from the ssGSEA analysis of the TCGA PC cohort (|Cor| > 0.30, P < 0.05). Spearman's correlation was performed in (a)–(c).
Fig 3: (a and b) RT-qPCR and western blot analysis validated the idea that MBOAT2 is highly expressed in PDAC cells. (c and d) RT-qPCR confirmed the transfection efficiency of MBOAT2 in AsPC-1 and PANC-1 cells. (e–h) MTT and colony formation assays showed that MBOAT2 overexpression promotes PDAC cell proliferation, while MBOAT2 knockdown represses the proliferation. (i and j) Transwell assay was conducted to evaluate the migration ability of AsPC-1 and PANC-1 cells transfected with LV-MBOAT2 and LV-MBOAT2-RNAi. P values were assessed using two-tailed t-tests and ANOVA, followed by Dunnett's tests for multiple comparisons in (c)–(j). All data represent the means ± SD from three independent experiments (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001).
Fig 4: (a) Multiple databases demonstrated that MBOAT2 is overexpressed in PC. (b) The protein expression of MBOAT2 in normal pancreatic tissues. (c) The protein expression of MBOAT2 in PC. P values were determined by nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test or two-tailed t-tests in (a) (*P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; ****P < 0.0001).
Fig 5: (a) A correlation analysis between the MBOAT2 level and immune-related terms from the ssGSEA analysis of the GSE62452 cohort (|Cor| > 0.30, P < 0.05). (b) A correlation analysis between the MBOAT2 level and immune-related terms from the ssGSEA analysis of the GSE79668 cohort (|Cor| > 0.30, P < 0.05). (c) A correlation analysis between the MBOAT2 level and immune-related terms from the ssGSEA analysis of the GSE60979 cohort (|Cor| > 0.30, P < 0.05). (d) A correlation analysis between the MBOAT2 level and immune-related biological functions from GSEA of the TCGA PC cohort. Spearman's correlation was performed in (a)–(d).
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