Fig. 4

Sample variation and expression profile of TDP-43. (a) Principal Component Analysis (PCA) plot illustrating the clustering of samples based on gene expression profiles. Samples group according to their experimental conditions (NS, KD, WTT, and MVT), indicating consistent variation and clear segregation between groups, supporting the robustness of the dataset. (b) Heatmap of hierarchical clustering based on sample correlation coefficients. Strong intra-group similarity and distinct inter-group differences confirm the expected transcriptomic variation between conditions, validating the experimental design. (c) Bar plot of Tardbp (TDP-43) expression across experimental conditions. KD samples exhibit the lowest TDP-43 expression, confirming effective gene knockdown, while WTT and MVT samples show elevated expression, consistent with overexpression constructs. The NS control group exhibits intermediate endogenous expression levels, aligning with expected modulation based on genetic interventions.