RETRACTED ARTICLE: Upregulation of long non-coding RNA OGFRP1 facilitates endometrial cancer through regulating miR-124-3p/SIRT1 axis and activating PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway
Authors: Jingjing Wu
Ruyin Lin
Yumin Ke
Limei Zhou
Huiqing Chen
Yuqiong Lv
Guimin Chen
Shaorong Chen
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Endometrial cancer; OGFRP1; PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway; Sirtuin1; long non-coding RNA
Affiliations: a Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University , Quanzhou , China.

Abstract:  We planned to investigate the possible influences of long non-coding RNA (opioid growth factor receptor pseudogene 1) OGFRP1 in endometrial cancer and its potential regulatory mechanism. We measured the level of OGFRP1 in endometrial cancer tissues and evaluated the influences of OGFRP1 dysregulation on the tumour cell biological processes of endometrial cancer cells. Further, the regulatory relationships between OGFRP1 and miR-124-3p, between miR-124-3p and Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) were, respectively, investigated. The interaction between OGFRP1 dysregulation and activation of PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway was revealed by Western blotting. OGFRP1 was up-regulated in endometrial cancer tissues and cells. OGFRP1 suppression inhibited the malignant behaviour (inhibited cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis, and suppressed cell migration and invasion) of the Ishikawa cells via negatively regulating miR-124-3p. SIRT1 was a target gene of miR-124-3p, and miR-124-3p regulated tumour growth and metastasis by the down-stream signal of SIRT1. Moreover, suppression of OGFRP1 restrained the activation of PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β signals in the Ishikawa cells via miR-124-3p/SIRT1 axis. Our experiments revealed that upregulation of OGFRP1 may enhance the progression of endometrial cancer by regulating miR-124-3p/SIRT1 axis and by activating PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway. OGFRP1 may be of significance in illustrating the biology of endometrial cancer. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 #1 I have been examining a group of five papers, characterised by their distinctive Western Blots, which have a number of unifying features not in evidence elsewhere. The protein blobs have a distinctive appearance, vaguely resembling dog-bones or sometimes old-style telephone handpieces. Within each band the blobs are drawn from the same  morphological gamut , with no sense of development from one band to the next as the proteins migrate across an electrophoresis gel. The spaces between the lanes also remain constant from band to band, while the bands remain in perfect horizontal alignment, with no curvature or slant as they migrate (allowing for compactness when composing each Figure). Within a lane, there is no continuity from one band to the next, or between a protein and its phosphorylated form. I am not trying to show all of each paper s blots here, only a representative sample. 1. [Chen et al. (2018)] . Fig 5A: ![file] 2. [Li et al. (2019)] . Figs 5D, E, I, J. ![file] 3. [Lv et al (2019)] . Figs 4F, 4H. ![file] 4. [Yi et al. (2019)] . Figs 3D, 3G, 4B, 4C. ![file] 5. [Wan et al. (2020)] . Fig 7D: ![file] 4 and 5 also display some FACS plots (measuring cell apoptosis) of a distinctive (unique) appearance, described elsewhere as  The Death Star down in each frame s quadrant Q3 is shooting out bolts of planet-smashing energy to the right through Quadrant Q4, while disciplined flotillas of Rebel Alliance X-Wing starfighters are swooping down through Q1 and Q2 . These Death Star blots are also found in association with [the style of  leaping sardine Western blot] , and it may be that these airbrushed dog-bones are derived from the sardines. ![file] ![] To me it seems unlikely that these images were generated by five unrelated groups of authors, and I am more inclined to believe that they were the work of a single uncredited workshop. , 
 It is also of interest to compare the Transwell-assay cell migration invasion images between this paper and [Yi et al. (2019)] . Here are Figs 1F G, 2G H and 4D E, above; in the middle, 3E F and 5D E from Yi et al.; and below, enclosed by red boxes, Figs 2F G, 3I J and 5F G from [Sun et al. (2019)] . ![file] Surprisingly many panels are duplicated or triplicated, albeit differently labeled. I ran out of colors. Some duplicates are left as an exercise for the reader. UPDATE: Further sightings. Fig 2A C in [Wang Kong (2018)] - here at upper right; and Figs 2H, 5G from [Feng et al (2018)] - here at lower right. ![] , 
 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 , 
 Retracted [22nd May 2020] .  Since publication, concerns have been raised about the integrity of the data in the article. When approached for an explanation, the authors checked their data and confirmed there are fundamental errors present. Therefore, they have agreed to the retraction of this article. The authors apologise for this oversight. ,