MicroRNA-21 regulates the ERK/NF-Œ∫B signaling pathway to affect the proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of human melanoma A375 cells by targeting SPRY1, PDCD4, and PTEN
Authors: Xu-Hua Mao
Zei-Yong Xu
Si-Bian Liu
Min Chen
Pan-Gen Cui
Yan Wang
Journal: Molecular Carcinogenesis (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: ERK/NF-Œ∫B signaling pathway; PDCD4; PTEN; SPRY1; melanoma
Affiliations: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yixing People's Hospital, Wuxi, P.R. China., Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Diseases and STIs, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, P.R. China., Department of Dermatology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, P.R. China.

Abstract:  This study aims to explore the effects of microRNA-21 (miR-21) and ERK/NF-Œ∫B signaling pathway on human melanoma A375 cells. The melanoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues were obtained from 45 melanoma patients. qRT-PCR was conducted to quantify the expression of miR-21 and the gene mRNA expressions. Human melanoma A375 cells were divided into the Mock, negative control (NC), miR-21 inhibitors, miR-21 inhibitors + siRNA-SPRY1, miR-21 inhibitors + siRNA-PDCD4, and miR-21 inhibitors + siRNA-PTEN groups. Western blotting was used to determine protein expressions. CCK8 assay and Transwell assay were performed to evaluate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A375 cells. Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining was adopted to detect cell apoptosis. MiR-21 expression was higher in melanoma tissues than in adjacent tissues, while the mRNA and protein expressions of SPRY1, PDCD4, and PTEN were lower in melanoma tissues than in adjacent tissues. Compared with the Mock and NC groups, the miR-21 inhibitors group exhibited increased expressions of SPRY1, PDCD4, and PTEN and decreased expressions of ERK, p-ERK, NF-Œ∫B p65, and p-NF-Œ∫B p65. After transfection of miR-21 inhibitors, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of A375 cells were inhibited, while the apoptosis of A375 cells was promoted. However, the effects of miR-21 inhibitors on the growth, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of A375 cells were reversed after transfection of siRNA-SPRY1, siRNA-PDCD4, or siRNA-PTEN. MiR-21 can promote the proliferation, migration, and inhibit the apoptosis of human melanoma A375 cells by inhibiting SPRY1, PDCD4, and PTEN via ERK/NF-Œ∫B signaling pathway. ¬© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
  Figure 6. The apoptosis rate of A375 cells after transfection detected by Annexin V propidium iodide (AV-PI) double staining . Two panels are almost identical. Dramatised below by black white reversing one panel and superimposing it on the other, so that black points are cells unique to lower-right panel; white points are unique to lower-left panel; shared cells cancel out.  , 
 Fig 6 again.  Blue and purple rectangles enclose constellations of points where there are very similar constellations in Fig 7 of [Yu et al (2017)] .  Effect of SOCS1 silencing on the cell apoptosis of A357 melanoma cells in the mock, negative-siRNA, and SOCS1-siRNA groups was detected by flow cytometry .  How to explain this coincidence? UPDATED: Fig Fig 4B from [Xu et al (2016)] .  CNE-2 apoptosis in miRNA-124-3p inhibitor group was lower than inhibitor negative control (NC) group and blank control group . Same dust-bunnies again.  ,