Fig. 4. A high dose DHT/AR can increase the PD-L1 expression via up-regulating the circFKBP5 expression.
A Schematic diagram for prediction of 14 candidate circRNAs that were both related to AR target-genes (FKBP5 and PSCA) B qRT-PCR was performed to show quantification of 14 candidate circRNAs expression after 50 nM DHT treatment in EnzS1-C4-2 (left panel) and EnzR1-C4-2 (right panel) cells. C Western blot showed PD-L1 expression after sh-circ76151 (left panel), sh-circ127664 (right panel) in both cell lines and treated with 50 nM DHT or EtOH. D Before treating EnzS1-C4-2 cells with 50 nM DHT, circ76151 (left panel) and circ127664 (right panel) expressions were knocked down. After treatment, MTT assay was performed separately using NK92-MI cells to target EnzS1-C4-2 cells. E RNase R assay to determine the sensitivity of circFKBP5 by RNase R digestion in EnzS1-C4-2 (left panel) and EnzR1-C4-2 (right panel). F qRT-PCR was applied to test FKBP5 mRNA expression in EnzS1-C4-2 (left panel) and EnzR1-C4-2 (right panel) after 50 nM DHT treatment for 48 h. G qRT-PCR was performed to evaluate the efficacy of knocking down FKBP5 (shFKBP5) in EnzS1-C4-2 (left panel) and EnzR1-C4-2 (right panel) with/without (w/wo) shFKBP5. H Western blot showed PD-L1 expression in both cell lines after sh-FKBP5 and treated with 50 nM DHT or EtOH. *p < 0.05 **p < 0.01, NS = Not Significant.