PSMA7 promotes the malignant proliferation of esophageal cancer

It is important to explore novel molecules that play a key role in esophageal cancer (ESCA) progression.

Two ESCA tissue expression profile microarrays (GSE92396 and GSE17351) data from GEO were downloaded, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed using GEO2R. The DEGs common to both microarrays were analyzed for protein-protein interactions, KEGG and GO. The altered expression of proteasome 20S subunit α 7 (PSMA7) in ESCA tissues was analyzed using information from publicly available databases (GEO, TCGA, TNMplot). PSMA7 was overexpressed or knocked down in Eca109 and KYSE150 cells using transfection, and the effects on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were examined using CCK-8, Transwell, and flow cytometry experiments.

284 common DEGs were identified, and 10 core proteins, HSP90AA1, AURKA, CDC6, PCNA, MCM5, KAT2B, GRB2, MYBL2, PSMA7, and CKAP5, involved in ESCA progression were identified. PSMA7 mRNA level was significantly increased in ESCA tissues. PSMA7 overexpression significantly promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of Eca109 and KYSE150 cells, and significantly promoted apoptosis. In contrast, PSMA7 knockdown inhibited their proliferation and motility, and significantly suppressed apoptosis.

This study analyzed multiple proteins that may play a key role in ESCA progression, and identified the pro-cancer role of PSMA7.