MicroRNA-663 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells via targeting TGF-Œ≤1
Authors: Ming Meng
Renjun Peng
Qizhuang Li
Zhigang Peng
Zigui Chen
Xin Wan
Quan Cheng
Zhiming Ma
Jincan Liu
Rui Chen
Bing Jiang
Journal: Oncology Reports (2016)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Cell migration; invasion; tumor metastasis; microRNAs; miR-663
Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Cell migration and invasion are key processes involved during tumor metastasis. Recently, microRNAs (miRs) have been demonstrated to play important roles in the regulation of cancer metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate the exact role of miR-663 in the metastasis of glioblastoma as well as the underlying mechanisms. By performing quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis, we demonstrated that miR-663 was significantly downregulated in glioblastoma tissues (n=25), when compared to that in normal brain tissues (n=15). In addition, its expression levels were also reduced in human glioblastoma cell lines, A172 and U87. Furthermore, restoration of miR-663 expression led to a significant decrease in the cell proliferation, migration and invasion of human glioblastoma A172 and U87 cells. We further identified TGF-Œ≤1 as a direct target of miR-663, and found that the expression of TGF-Œ≤1 was negatively mediated by miR-663 at the post-transcriptional level in glioblastoma cells. Moreover, overexpression of TGF-Œ≤1 significantly reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-663 upregulation on the proliferation, migration and invasion in A172 and U87 cells. In addition, our data suggest that MMP2 and E-cadherin, a key factor in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), are involved in the miR-633/TGF-Œ≤1-mediated metastasis of glioblastoma. In summary, miR-663 plays an inhibitory role in the regulation of proliferation, migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells, partly at least, via direct mediation of TGF-Œ≤1 as well as downstream MMP2 and E-cadherin. Therefore, we suggest that miR-663 is a potential candidate for the prevention of glioblastoma metastasis. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 3 and 8. * Light blue, pink, and cyan boxes show panels that look similar to each other. They do appear to represent the 36h timepoints of the same experiments, so this might be ok, but what is puzzling is that the corresponding 0h timepoints are different. Could the authors please comment on that? If the same samples are shown twice, why do the time=0 timepoints not match?  , 
 Figure 9. * Red boxes highlight two panels that appear to show an overlap, if accounting for a 180 degree rotation.  , 
 #2 Dear Madam I m the first author, named Qizhuang Li. Thank you for your reminder and kindly comments. As we got the message from the email, we immediately checked the original data of the experiment. It s our mistakes for inappropriate images. And soon we will contact the editorial office of the Journal, Oncology Reports, for this mistake and make the necessary corrections as soon as possible. The misuse of the picture will not directly affect our hypothesis and results. We apologize again and thanks for your constructive comment. We will try our best, with a more rigorous attitude, to review manuscript to prevent it. Sincerely yours, Qizhuang Li, M.D. E-mail: zhuangzly@163.com , 
 Fig 8 again:  Black, blue-grey, lilac rectangles refer to Fig 3A of [Jiang et al (2016)] .  Cell migration assay was performed to determine cell invasion levels in ccRCC cells treated with Aza (10 nM) for 72 h .  And to Fig 7 (LOVO half) of [Tian et al (2015)] :  , 
 #2 U87 Control panel again, flipped by 180 deg...  It appears to match the H29 Control panel of Fig 7, [Wang et al (2014)] .  That Figure is a versatile one, appearing in many other papers, linked in that thread. , 
 Retracted [3 May 2022] .  Subsequently to the publication of the above article, an interested reader drew to the Editor s attention that they had identified several instances of overlapping data panels comparing between the scratchu2011wound assay data (u201836 hu2019 experiments) portrayed in Figs. 3 and 8; furthermore, there appeared to be an overlap in a pair of the data panels shown for the Transwell assay experiments with U87 cells in Fig. 9 (albeit with an inversion of one of the panels), such that these data may have been derived from the same original source, even though they were purportedly intended to show the results from differently performed experiments. Given the multiple instances of overlapping data panels that have been identified in the compilation of the figures in this article, the Editor of Oncology Reports has decided that this article should be retracted from the publication on account of a lack of overall confidence in the presented data. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive any reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,