MicroRNA-137 suppresses tumor growth in epithelial ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Liyu Zhang
Zhihong Li
Fengchun Gai
Yanping Wang
Journal: Molecular Medicine Reports (2015)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Epithelial ovarian cancer; microRNAs; miR-137; diagnosis; treatment regimens
Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, P.R. China., Department of Infectious Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130117, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains a major gynecological problem, with a poor 5-year-survival rate due to distant metastases. The identification of microRNAs (miRNAs) may provide a novel avenue for diagnostic and treatment regimens for EOC. Several miRNAs have been reported to be involved in the progression of EOC, among which miRNA (miR)-137 has been observed to be downregulated in the ovarian tissues of patients with EOC. However, the functions of miR-137 in EOC cell apoptosis, migration and invasion remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the expression of miR-137 was measured in clinical ovarian cancer specimens and cell lines using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The role of miR-137 in the growth and survival of the SKOV3 human ovarian cancer cell line was determined using several in vitro approaches and in nude mouse models. The results demonstrated that the expression of miR-137 was downregulated in the ovarian cancer specimens and cell lines. It was also observed that enforced expression of miR-137 in the EOC cell lines decreased cell proliferation, clonogenicity, migration and invasion, and induced G1 arrest and cell apoptosis in vitro. Notably, the enforced expression of miR-137 suppressed tumor growth in the nude mice models. These findings suggested that miR-137 may act as a tumor suppressor and be used as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of EOC. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 4C.  Western blot analysis of the protein expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 following transfection with miR-137 or the corresponding negative control.  For comparison, Fig 5B from [Yang Yang (2015)] .  FLS were pre-treated with miR-221 inhibitor or corresponding NC for 24 h and exposed to human LPS for 48 h, then MMP-3 and MMP-9 protein expression were measured by western blot.  , 
 Clockwise from top left: - Fig 3A from [Liu et al (2015)] .  Effects of miR-222 inhibitor on HepG2 cell cycle distribution. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase. - Fig 3A from [Zhang et al (2015)] .  Effects of microRNA-145 (miR-145) on multiple myeloma (MM) cell cycle distribution. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase. - Fig 3A from [Li et al (2015)] .  Enforced expression of miR-338-3p induced cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis in EC9706 cells. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase. - Fig 3A from [**Zhang et al (2015b)**] ,  miR-137 induces changes in cell cycle distribution and cell apoptosis in SKOV3 cells. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase  The same panels keep appearing. ----------------------------------------------------- *[left]* Fig 2A from [Liu et al (2015)] .  Effect of DOX and Ad sh-NOB1 alone or in combination on cell cycle of TPC-1 cells. (A) Cell DNA content distribution in each phase . *[upper right]* Fig 2C from [Song et al (2015)] .  Determination of HeLa cell cycle distribution by PI staining after transfection with miR-133a or miR-Ctrl . *[lower right]* Fig 2d from [Zhang et al (2015)] .  The cell cycle was detected by PI staining after being transfected with miR-133a or miR-NC.  The same panels keep appearing. --------------------------------------------------- Clockwise from upper left: - Fig 2D from [Pang et al (2015)] .  cell cycle progression ... determined in HepG2 cells transfected with the miR-154 mimic or miR-NC. - Fig 2D from [Zhao et al (2017)] .  cell cycle stage ... assessed in MM1S cells transfected with miR-144-3p mimic or miR-NC. - Fig 2D from [Li et al (2016)] .  The cell cycle procession was detected by flow cytometry after transfection with miR-494 or miR-NC . - Fig 2C from [Luan et al (2015)] .  Cell cycle was measured in glioma cells at posttransfection by flow cytometry .  The same panels keep appearing. --------------------------------- Fig 2D from [Zhou et al (2016)] .  Cell cycle distribution of U2OS cells transfected with the miR-154 mimic was determined by flow cytometry .  ,