Propofol inhibits proliferation and metastasis by up-regulation of miR-495 in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells
Authors: Yingjian Wang
Wenyu Zhang
Hai Sun
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Propofol; Twist1; choriocarcinoma; metastasis; miR-495
Affiliations: Department of Anesthesiology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China;, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China

Abstract:  Choriocarcinoma is a rare gestational trophoblastic tumour. Propofol is one of the commonly used intravenous anaesthetic agents and exerts an anti-tumour role in multiple cancers. However, the effect of propofol on choriocarcinoma has not been well explored. We investigated the effect of propofol on JEG-3 cells. The effects of propofol on cell proliferation and metastasis were determined. The expression of miR-495 was suppressed while Twist1 overexpressed. Cell viability, migration and invasion were respectively measured using CCK-8 assay and transwell migration/invasion assay. The expression of miR-495, AKT1 and Twist1 was detected using qRT-PCR. Western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression levels of EMT- and proliferation-related factors, and TGF-Œ≤ pathway proteins. Propofol treatment significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and reduced the releasing of EMT. miR-495 was up-regulated by profocol, and miR-495 inhibition reversed the effect of propofol on cell proliferation and metastasis in JEG-3 cells. Furthermore, propofol decreased the expression of AKT1 and Twist1 through up-regulating miR-495, and Twist1 participated in the regulation of propofol on TGF-Œ≤ signalling inactivation in JEG-3 cells. This study demonstrates that propofol suppresses cell proliferation and metastasis through up-regulation of miR-495 and down-regulation of Twist1 in JEG3 cells. Highlights Propofol inhibits proliferation and metastasis in JEG-3 cells; miR-495 is up-regulated by propofol in JEG-3 cells; miR-495 suppression blocks the effect of propofol in JEG-3 cells; Propofol decreases Twist1 expression through up-regulating miR-495; Propofol inhibits TGF-Œ≤ signalling via regulation of Twist1. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Expression of Concern [11 January 2021] . ------------------------------ We, the publisher and editor of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, are issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article: Hai Sun, Yingjian Wang Wenyu Zhang (2019) Propofol inhibits proliferation and metastasis by up-regulation of miR-495 in JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47,1, 1738u20131745, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1608216 After publication of this article, questions about the scientific integrity of the article content were brought to the Publisher and Editoru2019s attention. We reached out to the authors requesting that they supply information that would confirm the articleu2019s integrity. The authors provided several files in response to our queries, but they were unable to provide the original data in a format which satisfies our requirements to confirm the authenticity of some types of data, including the western blots. Therefore, as we continue to work through the issues raised, we advise readers to interpret the information presented in the article with due caution. The authors have been notified about this Expression of Concern. ,