Circ_DCAF6 potentiates cell stemness and growth in breast cancer through GLI1-Hedgehog pathway
Authors: Guolin Ye
Ruilin Pan
Dan Zhou
Leiwei Zhu
Journal: Experimental and Molecular Pathology (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: BC; GLI1; Stemness; Tumorigenesis; circ_DCAF6
Affiliations: Department of Breast Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, GuangDong, China. Electronic address: ., Department of Breast Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan 528000, GuangDong, China.

Abstract:  Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are extensively revealed as a malignant activator or suppressor in multiple pathological processes including cancer cell stemness and growth. However, the association of circ_DCAF6 with breast cancer (BC) cell growth and stemness has not been well depicted. In this research, qRT-PCR clarified the high level of circ_DCAF6 in BC cells. In functional aspects, BC cells presented suppressed proliferation and stemness in the absence of circ_DCAF6. The potential correlation of circ_DCAF6 with Hedgehog (Hh) pathway was unveiled utilizing its specific inhibitor or agonist in qRT-PCR and functional assays. Circ_DCAF6 positively mediated the expression of GLI1 and its facilitating impacts on BC cell proliferation and stemness required the participation of GLI1-dependent Hh signaling pathway. In depth, circ_DCAF6 post-transcriptionally upregulated GLI1 expression through sequestering miR-616-3p. Rescue experiments verified that the suppressive influence of circ_DCAF6 depletion or miR-616-3p upregulation on BC progression was reversed by GLI1 upregulation. In summary, a probable contribution of circ_DCAF6 to BC cell growth and stemness was elaborated. Circ_DCAF6 assisted in Hh signal pathway activation via the up-regulation of GLI1 by sponging miR-616-3p, generating new thoughts on future direction of antagonizing BC tumorigenesis and stem-like property. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Really?  More recently, coordination polymers based on closed-shell d10 metal ions have shown the capability to be applied in the biomedicine fields.[8u201311] - [8]. Liu, W.; Li, H.; Zhu, H.; Xu, P. **The Interfacial Adhesion Performance and Mechanism of a Modified Asphaltu2013Steel Slag Aggregate**. Materials 2020, 13, 1180. DOI: 10.3390 ma13051180. - [9]. Duan, C.; Yu, Y.; Xiao, J.; Zhang, X.; Li, L.; Yang, P.; Wu, J.; Xi, H. Water-Based Routes for Synthesis of Metal-Organic Frameworks: A Review. Sci. China Mater. 2020, 63, 667u2013685. DOI: 10.1007 s40843-019-1264-x. - [10]. Du, H.; Ma, C.; Ma, W.; Wang, H. Microstructure Evolution and Dielectric Properties of Ce-Doped SrBi4Ti4O15 Ceramics Synthesized via Glycine-Nitrate Process. PAC. 2018, 12, 303u2013312. DOI: 10.2298 PAC1804303D. - [11]. Duan, C.; Yu, Y.; Yang, P.; Zhang, X.; Li, F.; Li, L.; Xi, H. Engineering New Defects in MIL-100(Fe) via a Mixed-Ligand Approach to Effect Enhanced Volatile Organic Compound Adsorption Capacity. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2020, 59, 774u2013782. DOI: 10.1021 acs.iecr.9b05751. , 
 This article claims that some coordination polymers were tested in  hip replacement surgery ! This makes absolutely no sense. It is not possible to anstzesize an animal with an insoluble and toxic transition metal complex, particularly if it is a polymer! Abstract notes:  Its treatment activity combined with epidural anesthesia for hip replacement was evaluated. First, the hip replacement operation was carried on experimental mice, followed by the compound given combined with epidural anesthesia. In the Article, it states:  To evaluate the anesthesia activity of the compound combined with epidural anesthesia for hip replacement, the hip replacement was performed firstly before the indicated treatment. For this expiration, 30 Belgian rabbits used in this experiment were purchased from the Model Animal Research Center of Nanjing University (Nanjing, China). So, the animals changed from mice to rabbit between abstract and article? Is it possible at all to perform a  hip-replacement surgery on mice ??? , 
 #2 The description later shifts back to rabbits. Perhaps they swapped hips between bunnies.  As described above, the hip replacement operation was performed on the rabbit used in this experiment, then the compound was given for the epidural anesthesia, with Medetomidine used as positive control drug In fact there is **no description above**, so we never learn the details of anesthesia, like **how much**, or how insoluble crystals were injected into the animals spines. Reassuringly, though, we do learn that the authors (at Wenzhou Peopleu2019s Hospital) had received permission from the  Ethics Committee of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University (Nanjing, China) to perform these curious experiments on rabbit mice. ,