Silence of cZNF292 suppresses the growth, migration, and invasion of human esophageal cancer Eca‚Ä?09 cells via upregulating miR‚Ä?06
Authors: Zuorun Xiao
Yan Zhao
Guiju Hu
Mingzhe Yan
Mei Ren
Zengjia Liu
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: AMPK; PI3K/AKT; cZNF292; esophageal cancer; miR-206.
Affiliations: Institute of Forensic Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China., Forensic Science Center of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China., PICC Catheterization and Maintenance Clinic, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China., Department of Pain Treatment, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China., Department of Oncology, Jining No. 1 People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China.

Abstract:  Circular RNA (circRNA) cZNF292 has been previously revealed as a circular oncogenic RNA. This study attempted to illustrate the functions of cZNF292 in human esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells. Eca-109 cells were transfected with the short hairpin RNA specific against cZNF292 (sh-cZNF292) and/or miR-206 inhibitor. cZNF292 and miR-206 expression was examined by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry were performed for detecting cell growth including cell viability as well as apoptosis. Various kinds of factors, which are involved in cell development including proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were determined by western blot analysis. Besides, the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and PI3K/AKT signaling was measured by western blot analysis. It was found that cZNF292 silencing decreased Eca-109 cell viability and induced apoptosis. In the meantime, cZNF292 silencing inhibited cell migration and invasion. cZNF292 silencing upregulated miR-206 expression. And miR-206 downregulation impaired the suppressive effects of cZNF292 silence toward Eca-109 cell growth, migration, and invasion. cZNF292 silencing activated AMPK signaling and inactivated PI3K/AKT signaling also via regulating miR-206. In conclusion, silencing of cZNF292 abated growth, migration, and invasion of Eca-109 cells by upregulating miR-206, which subsequently modulated AMPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Western immunoblots with the same background.    , 
  DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT The data set(s) supporting the conclusions of this article is(are) included within the article. What? Plots of means and standard deviations are not  the data set(s) . The article does not even state how many repetitions of each experiment went into the means. , 
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Retracted [4 June 2021] . ------------------------------ The above article, published online on 03 November 2019 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between the the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Christian Behl, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. Several flaws and inconsistencies between results presented and experimental methods described were found, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. The authors collaborated in the investigation initially, but were not available for a final confirmation of the retraction. , 
 [Source: Jining First People s Hospital Release time: 2021-12-17] : In order to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity, severely punish violations, and create a good environment for scientific and technological innovation, the relevant paper issues recently investigated and dealt with by this unit are hereby notified as follows. 16. The paper  Silence of cZNF292 suppresses the growth, migration, and invasion of human esophageal cancer Ecau2010109 cells via upregulating was published by Ren Mei as the corresponding author, Liu Zengjia from Jining Medical College as the first author, and Hu Guiju as the co-first author miRu2010206u201d was investigated and found to be academic misconduct of tampering with data, fabricating research processes, and investing on behalf of others. Our hospital will deal with the relevant responsible persons as follows: Ren Mei (corresponding author, merged with another paper): cancel the application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans within 6 years; cancel 6 years as a nomination or Qualifications such as recommenders, nominated or recommenders, review experts, etc.; cancel their membership or membership in academic institutions such as societies, associations, etc.; postpone promotion to higher-level professional and technical positions for 2 years; instruct to contact the magazine as soon as possible to withdraw the manuscript ; Administrative warning. Hu Guiju (tied for the first author): The scientific research integrity admonition talk; the hospital circulates criticism. Zhao Yan (participating author): talk about scientific research integrity admonition; the hospital circulates criticism. Jining Medical College dealt with Liu Zengjia (the first author) as follows: ordered him to make an in-depth inspection; canceled the three-year professional title promotion qualification from November 10, 2020 to November 9, 2023; canceled the five-year declaration Qualifications such as science and technology plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), science and technology awards and titles of science and technology talents, from November 10, 2020 to November 9, 2025; Criticism will be notified in the hospital. ,