Fig. 4: Bulk RNA-seq showing DEGs in brains of Snai2^+/+, Snai2^+/−, and Snai2^−/− mice.

A PCA of RNA-seq data from brain tissue of Snai2^+/+, Snai2^+/−, and Snai2^−/− mice. The black dashed-line contours delineate the approximate distribution boundaries of sample clusters according to their respective genotypes. Notably, the PCA reveals distinct transcriptional profiles, with Snai2^−/− mice forming a separate cluster that is clearly segregated from the overlapping distribution of Snai2^+/+ and Snai2^+/− mice, indicating substantial transcriptomic differences between Snai2^−/− mice and the other two groups. B Volcano plots showing DEGs in the cerebral cortex (top), hippocampus (bottom left), and the other brain regions (bottom right) in Snai2^−/− mice relative to Snai2^+/+ mice. The down-regulated expression of c-fos is labeled. C Heatmap of selected DEGs in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and the other brain regions of Snai2^+/+ and Snai2^−/− mice. Gene expression levels are represented as z-scores, with red indicating up-regulated expression and blue indicating down-regulated expression. Genes of interest are labeled on the right side of the heatmap. The expressions of Snai2 and c-fos decrease significantly in the Snai2^−/− mice. D Correlation heatmap of the gene expression in Snai2^−/− mice. The heatmap shows the Pearson correlation coefficients between gene pairs, with red indicating a positive correlation and blue indicating a negative correlation. Robust positive correlations were observed between c-fos and Arl4d, Depp1, Hspa1b, Hspa1a, as well as mt − Nd4l. E Venn diagrams showing the overlap of up-regulated (top) and down-regulated (bottom) genes in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and other brain regions of Snai2^−/− mice. F GO enrichment analysis of up-regulated (top) and down-regulated (bottom) genes in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and other brain regions of Snai2^−/− mice. Snai2^+/+, Snai2^+/−, and Snai2^−/− (n = 12 per group). Each group has an equal number of males and females.