<p>Regulation of <em>RUNX3</em> Expression by DNA Methylation in Prostate Cancer</p>
Authors: Xin Yang
Alimu Reheman
Shumei Wang
Journal: Cancer Management and Research (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: AZA; DNA methylation; DNMT3b; RUNX3; prostate cancer.
Affiliations: Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China., Urumqi Blood Center, Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Purpose: To investigate the role of DNA methylation in the regulation of Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) and the effect of such mechanism on the proliferation of prostate cancer (PCa) cells. Materials and methods: The methylation of the RUNX3 in the promoter region in PCa cells was detected by bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP). Following treatment of the PCa cells with DNA methylation transferase inhibitor 5-AZA-2'-deoxycytidine (AZA), the effect on methylation level and expression of RUNX3 were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and BSP assays. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of the demethylated RUNX3 on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of PCa cells using CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. Using the DNA methylation transferase (DNMT3b) knockout or overexpression models, the relationship between DNMT3b and RUNX3 methylation was further assessed by qRT-PCR, Western blot and methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Results: The results indicated that the methylation level of RUNX3 in PCa cell lines was significantly higher than that of normal prostate epithelial (RWPE-1) cells. Furthermore, treatment with AZA not only promoted the demethylation of RUNX3 but also restored the mRNA and protein expression of RUNX3, and the reactivation of expression of the later exhibited its anti-tumor effects through regulation of the cycle progression in PCa cells. Moreover, DNMT3b could regulate the expression level of RUNX3 by altering the DNA methylation of the RUNX3 in PCa cells. Conclusion: RUNX3 is hypermethylated in a panel of PCa cell lines; inhibition of DNA methylation of RUNX3 could restore its gene expression, which could promote its anticancer effect. Thus, RUNX3 may serve as a novel putative molecular target gene for PCa therapy. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Retracted [23 December 2021] . ----------------------------- At the authors request, the Editor and Publisher of *Cancer Management and Research* wish to retract the published article. The authors have informed the journal that parts of the article were copied directly from the thesis of another researcher without their knowledge. The subject of the thesis was the regulation of CAMK2N1 gene expression and shared no relationship to the study described in the published article. The authors altered the information taken from the thesis and added it to the results presented in the article. The specific parts of the article taken from thesis were: - Figure 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E - Figure 2C The authors accept data falsification is a serious issue and is in breach of the journalu2019s editorial polices and requested to retract the article. The authors wish to apologise for this action. 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. , 
 RetractionWatch on January 17, 2022: https: retractionwatch.com 2022 01 17 authors-admit-stealing-parts-of-a-paper-from-a-thesis-on-an-unrelated-subject ,