<p>Long Noncoding RNA <em>LINC00173</em> Promotes the Malignancy of Melanoma by Promoting the Expression of IRS4 Through Competitive Binding to microRNA-493</p>
Authors: Fan Yang
Jianwu Gao
Na Wu
Weihui Zeng
Pengzhen Lei
Journal: Cancer Management and Research (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: LINC00173; melanoma; miR-493; therapeutic target.
Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, People's Republic of China., Department of Orthopedics, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710068, People's Republic of China., Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710048, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Purpose: Long intergenic nonÔª?protein-coding RNA 173 (LINC00173) plays crucial roles in lung cancer. However, the expression and biological functions of LINC00173 in melanoma have not yet been investigated. In this study, we aimed to characterize the involvement of LINC00173 in melanoma and elucidate its mechanisms of action. Materials and methods: Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR was performed to measure LINC00173 expression in melanoma. A CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, and migration and invasion assays were applied to examine melanoma cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, respectively. A xenograft tumor experiment was performed to determine the tumorous growth of melanoma cells in vivo. Results: We found that LINC00173 was upregulated in melanoma tissues and cell lines. High LINC00173 expression was closely associated with TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and shorter overall survival of patients with melanoma. Functional assays revealed that LINC00173 downregulation inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induced apoptosis, suggesting that LINC00173 acts as an oncogenic RNA. LINC00173 knockdown retarded the tumorous growth of melanoma cells in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00173 increased insulin receptor substrate 4 (IRS4) expression by sponging microRNA-493 (miR-493), thereby acting as a competing endogenous RNA. The effects of LINC00173 knockdown on the malignant phenotype of melanoma cells were reversed by overexpression of IRS4 or knockdown of miR-493. Conclusion: The LINC00173-miR-493-IRS4 pathway regulates melanoma characteristics by increasing the expression of IRS4 via competitive binding of LINC00173 to miR-493, suggesting that this pathway is a potential target for the diagnosis, prognosis, and/or treatment of melanoma. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Another in a series of  Travelling Ruler posts. These six line-ups of xenograft tumors came from different research teams at different institutions, but somehow they seem to use the same ruler to provide scale. Fig 1J from [Zhang, Long Hu (2020)] . Representative images of the tumor xenografts obtained from groups u201csh-LINC00205u201d and u201csh-NCu201d.  Fig 7B from [Liu et al (2020)] .  Images of tumor xenografts derived from sh-OSER1-AS1 or sh-NC-stably transected H522 cells .  **Fig 7B from [Yang et al (2020)] **.  After 4 weeks, all the mice were euthanized, and the tumor xenografts were excised and photographed.  Fig 6B of [Xing et al (2020)] .  The tumor xenografts obtained from sh-LINC01224 or sh-NC groups.  Fig 6B from [Qi, Lu Wang (2020)] .  Representative photograph of tumor xenografts obtained from the sh-ST7-AS1 and sh-NC groups .  Fig 7C from [Hou, Dong Du (2020)] .  Tumor xenografts representative images collected from groups u2018shLINC00466u02b9 and u2018sh-NCu2019.  Of course there are a lot of metal rulers of any given brand within laboratories, but the pattern of smudges and mottling on these six is similar enough to suggest identity.  , 
 Retracted [29 September 2021] . ---------------------------------------- The Editor and Publisher of *Cancer Management and Research* wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised over the tumor xenograft data presented in the article. The authors responded to our initial queries but were unable to provide satisfactory original data for their study. Given concerns relating to the validity of the studyu2019s findings the Editor advised for the article to be retracted. Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u201cRetractedu201d. ------------------------------ I should add that the paper contains implausible WBs (resembling strings of sausages), and flow-cytometry scatterplots that are perfectly plausible but tend to recur between an *oeuvre* of papers that has seen many recent retractions. These features (and a few others) identify it as the product of a papermill. https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1X401JM6CcpTSkbKsPsOl20pRKQ-ns1S_J5pTwtBjqPw edit?usp=sharing  It was easier in this case to point out the recurring ruler, than to hunt around for other appearances of the FC scatterplots. , 
 - *[left]* Fig 2F from  MicroRNA-652 suppresses malignant phenotypes in glioblastoma multiforme via FOXK1-mediated AKT mTOR signaling pathway ([Yang et al 2019] ). - *[right]* **Fig 6E**.  Both papers are retracted, but it is still useful to document the extent of figure recycling within the oeuvre of this papermill. , 
 - *[above]* Fig 6D E from  Long Noncoding RNA FOXD2-AS1 Promotes the Malignancy of Cervical Cancer by Sponging MicroRNA-760 and Upregulating Hepatoma-Derived Growth Factor ([Dou et al 2020] ). - *[below]* **Fig 5D E**.  ,