MZB1 knockout in human melanoma cells significantly modulates genes associated with cancer immune signaling

We performed differential gene expression analysis using high throughput multiplex analysis via NanoString nCounter Immune Profiling panel, which analyzes 785 genes (including 12 internal reference genes) related to immune pathways. nSolver software was used to analyze the data and a heat map was generated to show differential expression of 773 genes. Further, using a fold cut-off of ≥1.5 and p-value <0.05, we observed that MZB1 KO significantly modulated the expression of multiple cancer immune genes. CRISPR/Cas9 mediated MZB1 knockout (KO) melanoma lines were generated by the Genome editing services of the Biotechnology Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. RNA was extracted from control and MZB1 KO melanoma cells, followed by the determination of expression of 785 genes (including 12 internal reference genes) via the NanoString Immune Profiling Panel using the nCounter platform at the TRIP lab UW-Madison.