Up-regulation of miR-124 inhibits invasion and proliferation of prostate cancer cells through mediating JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway
Authors: W Huang
P-D Bai
J-C Xing
X-G Wang
Z Wu
B Chen
Journal: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (2017)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: STAT3; miR-124; prostate cancer; proliferation; apoptosis
Affiliations: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important protein in Janus kinase (JAK)-STAT signaling pathway, and can facilitate expression of Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1 gene, thus playing a role in tumor pathogenesis. Bioinformatics analysis revealed targeted binding sites between mircroRNA-124 (miR-124) and 3'-UTR of STAT3 mRNA. This study aims to investigate the role of miR-124 in regulating STAT3 expression and proliferation, cycle, apoptosis and invasion of prostate cancer cells. Materials and methods: Dual luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated targeted correlation between miR-124 and STAT3. Expression of miR-124, STAT3, p-STAT3, Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1 was compared between normal human prostate epithelial cell RWPE-1 and prostate cancer cell DU145. In vitro cultured DU145 cells were treated with miR-124 mimic and/or si-STAT3, to compare expression of STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Cyclin D1. Flow cytometry detected cell apoptosis and cycle, followed by clonal formation and transwell assay to test malignant proliferation and cell invasion. Results: Targeted regulation existed between miR-124 and STAT3. Comparing to RWPE-1, DU145 cells had lower miR-124 expression, G0/G1 phase ratio, or cell apoptosis, plus higher expression of STAT3, p-STAT3, Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1, ratio of S or G2/M phase. Transfection of miR-124 mimic and/or si-STAT3 remarkably decreased gene expression, weakened clonal formation, cell invasion, ratio of S and G2/M phase, cell apoptosis and increased G0/G1 ratio. Conclusions: MiR-124 up-regulation significantly suppresses STAT3, pSTAT3 and downstream Bcl-2 and Cyclin D1 expression, weakens cell invasion or malignant proliferation potency, induces G0/G1 phase arrest, and facilitates cell apoptosis. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 A Gallery of Unfortunate FACS Plots. Please excuse the length. This is a random assortment from a certain oeuvre. Any other of ~40 papers from the same journal(s) could have been used instead. I have only marked a few of the recurring constellations of points. Colored plots darkened and contrast-enhanced for visibility. Fig 4C [Liu et al (2017)] PMID 28770966 Fig 2D, 3D [Wu et al (2017)] PMID 28617558 Fig 2D [Liang et al (2017)] PMID 29164556  Fig 3E [Li et al (2018)] 10.26355 eurrev_201809_15933 Fig 4D [Dong et al (2018)] 10.26355 eurrev_201805_15059 Fig 4D [Song et al (2018)] 10.26355 eurrev_201806_15153  Fig 2B, 4B, 5C [Wang et al (2018)] 10.26355 eurrev_201801_14201 Fig 3B, 4E [Su Song (2018)] 10.26355 eurrev_201810_16155 Fig 2D [Han et al (2018)] 10.26355 eurrev_201811_16390  Fig 4C [Wang Yu (2019)] 10.26355 eurrev_201903_17397 Fig 5D [Zhou et al (2019)] 10.26355 eurrev_201911_19436 Fig 4E [Liu Zhang (2019)] 10.1089 cbr.2018.2749 Fig 4D [Piao et al (2019)] 10.1089 cbr.2018.2625  , 
 It may also be worth documenting the curious stylized renditions of Western Blots favoured by this production studio (and by the editors and reviewers who accept this oeuvre of papers).  , 
 Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cUp-regulation of miR-124 inhibits invasion and proliferation of prostate cancer cells through mediating JAK-STAT3 signaling pathway, by Z. Wu, W. Huang, B. Chen, P.-D. Bai, X.-G. Wang, J.-C. Xing, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017; 21 (10): 2338-2345u2013PMID: 28617558u201d has been withdrawn. [The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause] .  ,