The Roles of MicroRNA-122 Overexpression in Inhibiting Proliferation and Invasion and Stimulating Apoptosis of Human Cholangiocarcinoma Cells
Authors: Tian-Lin He
Chun Wang
Jun-Kuan Zhang
Gui-Xing Jiang
Li-Ping Cao
Fan Jiang
Tian-Yu Lin
Juan Zhao
Yun-Fu Cui
Ning Liu
Peng-Cheng Kang
Xiang-Yu Zhong
Journal: Scientific Reports (2015)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: microRNA-122; cholangiocarcinoma; proliferation; invasion; apoptosis
Affiliations: Department of General Surgery, Hainan Provincial people's Hospital, Haikou 570311, P.R. China., Department of Geratology, Hainan Provincial people's Hospital, Haikou 570311, P.R. China., Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China., Department of Interventional, the Third Hospital of PLA, P.R. China., Department of Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Xiangyang 441021, P.R. China., Department of Oncology, Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430024, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Our study investigated whether microRNA-122 (miR-122) played important roles in the proliferation, invasion and apoptosis of human cholangiocarcinoma (CC) cells. QBC939 and RBE cells lines were chosen and divided into five groups: miR-122 mimic group, anti-miR-122 group, negative control (NC) group, mock group and blank group. MiR-122 expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Roles of miR-122 in cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion were investigated using MTT assay, flow cytometer and Transwell invasion assay, respectively. MiR-122 expression was lower in CC tissues and QBC939 cell than that in normal bile duct tissues, HCCC-9810 and RBE cells. In both QBC939 and RBE cells lines, miR-122 expression was higher in miR-122 mimic group than that in NC group, mock group and blank group; opposite results were found in anti-miR-122 group. Cell proliferation and invasion were remarkably inhibited in miR-122 mimic group after 48 h/72 h transfection, while apoptotic cells numbers were much greater in miR-122 mimic group; the opposite results were obtained from anti-miR-122 group (all P &lt; 0.05). MiR-122 expression was significantly weaker in CC tissues, and miR-122 overexpression might play pivotal roles in inhibiting proliferation, stimulating apoptosis and suppressing invasion of CC cells, suggesting a new target for CC diagnosis and treatment. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 7.  The apoptosis of RBE cells stimulated by microRNA-122 (miR-122) detected by flow cytometry in (A) Blank group, (B) Mock group, (C) NC group, (D) miR-122 mimic group, (E) anti-miR-122 group; (F) Histogram results of the apoptotic RBE cells of different groups. Peer reviewers and editors evidently looked at this and thought  Yes! That s just what flow cytometry results should look like!  Fig 6 A,B. Can you see anything concerning here? If your answer is  yes , you may be over-qualified for a career as a Sci.Rep. editor or peer-reviewer.  , 
 Fig 9.  Transwell assay investigated the role of miR-122 in suppressing RBE cell invasion in (A) Blank group, (B) Mock group, (C) NC group, (D) miR-122 mimic group, (E) anti-miR-122 group; (F) Histogram results of RBE cell invasion detection within different groups .  *[above]* Fig 4B from [Chen et al (2016)] . *[below]* Fig 5D from [Xie et al (2017)] .  ,