Long non‚Äëcoding RNA‚ÄëHOTAIR promotes the progression of sepsis by acting as a sponge of miR‚Ä?11 to induce IL‚Ä?R expression
Authors: Xingsheng Gu
Yangneng Huang
Jianan Chen
Limei Zhu
Li Zhou
Feng Cao
Shuguang Wang
Journal: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: apoptosis; cecal ligation and puncture; hox transcript antisense RNA; interleukin-6R; microRNA-211
Affiliations: Department of Emergency Intensive Care Unit, Ningbo 6th Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315040, P.R. China, Department of Emergency, Ningbo 6th Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315040, P.R. China, Department of Trauma Orthopedics, Ningbo 6th Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315040, P.R. China

Abstract:  Sepsis remains the primary cause of death in intensive care units and multiple long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be dysregulated in samples of patients with sepsis. However, whether lncRNA-HOTAIR is involved in the etiology of sepsis remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of HOTAIR in sepsis and to reveal the associated mechanisms. A bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to evaluate the interaction between HOTAIR and miR-211, as well as miR-211 and IL-6R. An animal model of sepsis was established in mice via cecal ligation and puncture. Interferon (IFN)-Œ≥, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-Œ±, IL-1Œ≤, IL-6 receptor (R), microRNA (miR)-211 and HOTAIR expression was measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. Cellular proliferation and apoptosis of monocytes were assessed using cell counting kit-8 assay and flow cytometry, respectively. miR-211 was revealed to be targeted by HOTAIR and IL-6R. The expression of IFN-Œ≥, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-Œ±, IL-1Œ≤, IL-6R and HOTAIR was significantly upregulated in the septic mice, whereas miR-211 expression was downregulated. The overexpression of hox transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) and knockdown of miR-211 were associated with an increased expression of IFN-Œ≥, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-Œ±, IL-1Œ≤ and IL-6R in monocytes, while the overexpression of miR-211 exhibited the opposite effect. HOTAIR overexpression and miR-211 knockdown significantly inhibited cellular proliferation and promoted monocyte apoptosis, whereas the overexpression of miR-211 exhibited the opposite effects in monocytes. Therefore, HOTAIR may promote the progression of sepsis by indirectly regulating the expression of IL-6R via miR-211. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 At least two of the four flow cytometry images are simply re-gatings of the same population. There is a large region of overlap (green). I have included a few highlights to help make out the repeated counts.  Have the authors accidentally uploaded the wrong images? , 
 Figure 6.  Effects of HOTAIR and miRu2011211 overexpression or miRu2011211 knockdown on the protein expression of various inflammatory factors. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the level of IFN-u03b3, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-u03b1, IL-1u03b2 and IL-6R protein expression in cells transfected with HOTAIR, miR-211 mimics and miR-211 inhibitor .  I am intrigued by the absence of background, and the way the bands remain perfectly linear and retain the shape of the protein blobs as they move up the gel. Is it possible for the authors to upload the original scans of the gels? Numerous other papers have Figures which display the same qualities, hence my curiosity. I compiled a montage:  ,