<p>Long Non-Coding RNA A2M-AS1 Promotes Breast Cancer Progression by Sponging microRNA-146b to Upregulate MUC19</p>
Authors: Li Wu
Feiyue Yang
Jing Wu
Qi Zhang
Hanqun Zhang
Yuncong Liu
Zhaopeng Zheng
Xin Li
Yang Xiang
Min Luo
Libo Li
Journal: International Journal of General Medicine (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Hippo signaling pathway; Mucin19; breast cancer; long non-coding RNA A2M-AS1; microRNA-146b.
Affiliations: Department of Oncology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang 550002, Guizhou, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) A2M-AS1 has been indicated to be augmented in breast cancer (BC), with its specific function undetermined. Therefore, this study is designed to investigate the mechanism of lncRNA A2M-AS1 in BC. Methods: The expression of A2M-AS1, microRNA (miR)-146b, and MUC19 in BC tissues and cells was measured. Then, the interaction among A2M-AS1, miR-146b, and MUC19 was detected. After A2M-AS1, miR-146b, and MUC19 expression were altered in BC cells, cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis were detected, and the protein levels of Hippo-related proteins (YAP and p-YAP) were evaluated. Tumor growth assay was also performed to validate the effects of A2M-AS1 and miR-146b in vivo. Results: A2M-AS1 and MUC19 were highly expressed in BC, while miR-146b was poorly expressed. A2M-AS1 acts as a molecular sponge for miR-146b, which targeted and negatively modulated MUC19. A2M-AS1 accelerated BC cell proliferation, invasion, and colony formation and suppressed apoptosis via the miR-146b/MUC19/Hippo axis, which was confirmed in vivo. Conclusion: Taken above together, an oncogenic role for A2M-AS1 in BC was elicited by acting as a miR-146b sponge to promote MUC19 expression. The findings will present some cues for a further approach to BC. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 As noted on other threads, what appear to be the same tumors (and transformations of them) appear in three papers by unrelated groups of researchers: - Fig 4F from [Liu et al (2019)] . - Fig 7C from [Shi et al (2020)] . - Fig 5C from [Wen et al (2021)] .   Here I am interested in the **ruler**, which migrated around the institutions along with the tumors. Note its distinctive markings: on the 10 , a stain at the tip of the leftward stroke of the 1 , and a stain in the middle of the righthand curve of the 0 . On the 20 , a stain along the tops of both digits. The ruler continued its travels and we find it in Fig 6A of [Ji Shang (2020)] ,  Effects of RPL38 knockdown on the size of MKN-45 xenograft tumors in nude mice.  **Fig 7A of [Liu et al (2020)] **.  Tumors in nude mice after tumorigenesis .  Figs 3C, 5E, 7F of [Wang et al (2020)] .  Tumor volume and tumor weight in mice .  In Fig 4B of [Zhao et al (2020)] ,  Tumor weight was determined in the isolated tumors from the nude mice , the resolution is lower but the 20 seems to display the same stain.  The same low-resolution caveat applies to Fig 8B of [Xu et al (2020)] ,  Tumor weight was increased after miR-483-3p overexpression .  It would make sense if the xenograft experiments were all the work of a single laboratory, but none of the papers mention outsourcing any research to an outside agency. ,