Long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 promoted osteosarcoma proliferation and invasion via upregulating BDNF
Authors: F-H Cheng
L Cai
B-M Zhao
Journal: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: lncRNAs; AFAP1-AS1; osteosarcoma; proliferation; invasion
Affiliations: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The No. 1 People's Hospital of Jingzhou, Jingzhou, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have got much attention for their role in tumor progression. LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was studied in this research to identify how it affects the development and proliferation of osteosarcoma. Patients and methods: The mRNA expression of AFAP1-AS1 in osteosarcoma cells and tissue samples was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Moreover, cell proliferation assay and Matrigel assay were performed. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism was explored by using qRT-PCR and Western blot assay. Results: The expression level of AFAP1-AS1 was higher in osteosarcoma samples than that in adjacent tissues. In addition, the proliferation and invasion were inhibited after AFAP1-AS1 was downregulated in vitro. Besides, the mRNA and protein expression levels of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were reduced after downregulation of AFAP1-AS1. Furthermore, the expression level of BDNF was positively related to the expression of AFAP1-AS1 in osteosarcoma tissues. Conclusions: AFAP1-AS1 could enhance the proliferation and invasion of osteosarcoma cells by upregulating BDNF, which might be a potential therapeutic target in osteosarcoma. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of a set of 121 papers that all contain images from the same library of about 100 photos and plots. This is unexpected, because each paper has different authors and different affiliations, with little to no overlap, and describes different cancer types and molecules. It would be very hard to explain how authors from different labs would all obtain the same photo. Therefore, the papers might have all be derived from the same source, such as a paper mill that sells ready-to-be-published papers. This  Stock Photo paper set has been described in more detail on my blog post, https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 07 05 the-stock-photo-paper-mill and in a Wall Street Journal article by Eva Xiao (currently behind a paywall): https: www.wsj.com articles chinese-research-papers-raise-doubts-fueling-global-questions-about-scientific-integrity-11593939600 The vast majority (113 121) of the papers were published in the same journal, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (ERMPS). A link to the full set of papers can be found here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 172RWS18w1lTNJ9Nnj80fuXXTqTm4fGkoK0sdYyvKE3g edit?usp=sharing All papers have been reported to the journal editors on July 2, 2020. , 
 Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cLong noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 promoted osteosarcoma proliferation and invasion via upregulating BDNF, by B.-M. Zhao, F.-H. Cheng, L. Cai, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (7): 2744-2749u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201904_17547u2013PMID: 31002124u201d has been withdrawn. [The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause] . ,