Swainsonine represses glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion by reduction of miR-92a expression
Authors: Xingyi Jin
Guangjun Xu
Yunxia Cui
Lijuan Xie
Libo Sun
Zhuo Chen
Journal: BMC Cancer (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Glioma; PI3K/AKT/mTOR; Proliferation; Swainsonine; microRNA-92a.
Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No.126, Xiantai Street, Changchun, 130033, Jilin Province, China., Department of Vascular Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, Jilin Province, China., Department of Science and Education, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, Jilin Province, China., Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No.126, Xiantai Street, Changchun, 130033, Jilin Province, China. .

Abstract:  Background: Swainsonine is a natural indolizidine alkaloid, its anti-tumor activity has been widely reported in varied cancers. This study aimed to investigate whether Swainsonine exerted anti-tumor impact on glioma cells, likewise uncovered the relative molecular mechanisms. Methods: After administration with diverse concentrations of Swainsonine, cell growth, migration and invasion in U251 and LN444 cells were appraised by the common-used CCK-8, BrdU, flow cytometry and Transwell assays. MiR-92a mimic, inhibitor and the correlative NC were transfected into U251 and LN444 cells, and assessment of miR-92a expression was by utilizing qRT-PCR. Functions of miR-92a in above-mentioned cell biological processes were analyzed again in Swainsonine-treated cells. The momentous proteins of cell cycle, apoptosis and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway were ultimately examined by western blot. Results: Swainsonine significantly hindered cell proliferation through decreasing cell viability, declining the percentage of BrdU cells, down-regulating CyclinD1 and up-regulating p16 expression. Enhancement of percentage of apoptotic cells was presented in Swainsonine-treated cells via activating cleaved-Caspase-3 and cleaved-Caspase-9. Additionally, Swainsonine impeded the abilities of migration and invasion by decreasing MMP-2, MMP-9, Vimentin and E-cadherin. Repression of miR-92a was observed in Swainsonine-treated cells, and miR-92a overexpression overturned the anti-tumor activity of Swainsonine in glioma cells. Finally, western blot assay displayed that Swainsonine hindered PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway via regulating miR-92a. Conclusions: These discoveries corroborated that Swainsonine exerted anti-tumor impacts on glioma cells via repression of miR-92a, and inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 China s Ministry of Science Technology weighed in, in [a report from May 2022] ,  Summary of the public notification of the results of the investigation and handling of medical research integrity cases in some universities (May 23, 2022) . This is Case 18. Thx Google Translate. 18. The paper  Swainsonine represses glioma cell proliferation, migration and invasion by reduction of miR-92a expression was written by Chen Zhuo from the China-Japan Friendship Hospital of Jilin University as the corresponding author, and Sun Libo and Jin Xingyi as the co-first authors. After investigation, it was found that the thesis had the behavior of buying and selling the data of the thesis. Sun Libo (combined with another paper) will be dealt with as follows: disqualification of scientific and technological planning projects (special projects, funds, etc.) for 5 years; , withholding post allowances for 12 months, and prohibiting participation in the qualification review for graduate student enrollment for one year; Chen Zhuo will be dealt with as follows: cancel the application qualifications for science and technology plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.) for 5 years, cancel the qualifications for various awards and evaluations for 2 years, cancel Post and professional title promotion valid declaration qualifications once, post allowances withheld for 12 months, prohibited from participating in the postgraduate enrollment qualification review for 1 year; Jin Xingyi will be dealt with as follows: remind talk, criticize education. ------------------------ The editors of BMC Cancer continue to stand by the paper. ,