MicroRNA-21 suppresses PTEN and hSulf-1 expression and promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression through AKT/ERK pathways
Authors: Gaoya Xu
Can Xu
Mengchao Wu
Bin Sun
Lei Chen
Yong Zeng
Weidan Ji
Changqing Su
Longlong Bao
Haihua Qian
Shuwen Shen
Jie Chen
Yan Yan
Journal: Cancer Letters (2013)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: AKT; EMT; ERK; Epithelial‚Äìmesenchymal transition; HCC
Affiliations: Department of Molecular Oncology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgical Hospital & Institute, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China.

Abstract:  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been believed to associate with malignant progression including cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. However, the functions of miRNAs are intricate, one miRNA can directly or indirectly target multiple genes and function as oncogene or tumor suppressor gene. In this study, we found that miR-21 inhibits PTEN and human sulfatase-1 (hSulf-1) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The hSulf-1 is a heparin-degrading endosulfatase, which can inhibit the heparin binding growth factor-mediated signaling transduction into cells. Therefore, miR-21-mediated suppression of both hSulf-1 and PTEN led to activation of AKT/ERK pathways and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCC cells, and finally enhance the activity of HCC cell proliferation and movement and promote HCC xenograft tumor growth in mouse models. These findings may provide candidate targets for prevention and treatment of HCC. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of at least 30 papers by the same research group that all share the same photo. In all papers, this photo is used as a zoomed-in inset representing the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis of the  atomic lattice fringe and particle size of the nanoparticles. Of concern, the same photo is used to represent a different type of nanoparticle in each of these papers. Here is a collage of 6 different uses of the same photo,  Inset 1 :  Here is a list of the 30 papers identified so far that all use this photo, and the different types of nanoparticles that they represent. * Aysenur Aygun et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.jpba.2019.112961 - Nigella sativa Pt * Aysun Su0327avk et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.molliq.2019.112355 - PtNi@AC * Aysun Su0327avk et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.msec.2019.01.113 - ZnNi@f-MWCNT * Aysun Su0327avk et al. - DOI: 10.1038 s41598-019-55746-y - PdNi@rGO * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.ijhydene.2018.03.175 - Pd@GO * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.nanoso.2017.08.013 - PdRu@GO * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.apcatb.2017.11.067 - RhPt TC@GO * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.ijhydene.2018.07.081 - Pd-Ir@AC * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.jcis.2018.05.021 - Ru-Ni@PVP * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.nanoso.2018.07.008 - Pd@AC * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.ijhydene.2018.07.122 - PdRuNi@GO * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.ijhydene.2019.01.215 - PdCo@GO * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.jtice.2019.04.040 - PdNi@VC * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.ijhydene.2018.12.051 - PdCo@MOF * Betuu0308l Su0327en et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.ijhydene.2019.02.176 - RuCu@rGO * Birguu0308tay Su0327ahin et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.colsurfb.2017.12.042 - Pt * Buse Demirkan et al. - DOI: 10.1038 s41598-020-59935-y - rGO Pd@PPy * Buse Demirkan et al. - DOI: 10.1038 s41598-019-48802-0 - Pt-Co@rGO * Fatma Diler et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.molliq.2019.111967 - Pd@GO * Hayriye Genc Bilgicli et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.micromeso.2020.110014 - CPG * Hilal Acidereli et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.renene.2020.07.105 - PdRu@G * Mehmet Salih Nas et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.molliq.2019.112100 - Pt-Co@GO * Nabih Lolak et al. - DOI: 10.1021 acsomega.9b00485 - PdNi@GO * Oznur Alptekin et al. - DOI: 10.1039 D0CY00641F - PtRh@GO * Rukiye Ayranci et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.msec.2019.02.040 - Pt Ni@rGO * Sait Bozkurt et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.aca.2017.07.051 - Pd TNM@rGO * Sinan Eris et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.jcis.2017.11.085 - Pt@f-CB * Sinan Eris et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.ijhydene.2017.11.063 - Pt@f-VC * Suat Tacu0327yu0131ldu0131z et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.molliq.2019.04.019 - Ru-Rh@PVP * Zeynep Dasu0327delen et al. - DOI: 10.1016 j.apcatb.2017.08.014 - Pt@GO-PVP Here is Figure 1 of this paper:  , 
 One more paper from this group shows unexpected similarity of noise in two Raman spectra. Blue spectrum looks like somewhat flattened red.  , 
 Noise in XRD patterns also shows too much similarity.  ,