Long non‑coding RNA AFAP1‑AS1 facilitates the growth and invasiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the miR‑145/HOXA1 axis
Authors: Zhihong Li
Dongsheng Yu
Chang Su
Jun Ning
Minghe Li
Cong Zhao
Journal: Oncology Reports (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1; oral squamous cell carcinoma; microRNA-145; homeobox 1A.
Affiliations: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Department of Orthodontics, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China, Department of Gynaecology II, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China

Abstract:  Long non‑coding RNA (lncRNA) actin filament‑associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1‑AS1) has been reported to serve important roles in multiple types of cancer. However, the biological function and underlying mechanism of AFAP1‑AS1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain largely unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the biological roles and clarify the potential mechanism of AFAP1‑AS1 in OSCC. The expression levels of AFAP1‑AS1 in OSCC tissues and cells were determined using reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR. Cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion were analyzed using Cell Counting Kit‑8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell invasion assays, respectively. The potential binding between AFAP1‑AS1 and microRNA (miR)‑145 was validated using dual luciferase reporter and RNA pull‑down assays. A xenograft tumor model was established to evaluate the effect of AFAP1‑AS1 in vivo. The results revealed that AFAP1‑AS1 expression levels were markedly upregulated in OSCC tissues and cells. In addition, patients with OSCC with high expression levels of AFAP1‑AS1 had a poor prognosis. Functionally, the knockdown of AFAP1‑AS1 in OSCC cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. Similarly, in vivo AFAP1‑AS1 knockdown prevented tumor growth and reduced tumor size and weight. Mechanistically, AFAP1‑AS1 was discovered to regulate the expression levels of Homeobox A1 (HOXA1) by competing with miR‑145. The inhibition of miR‑145 partially attenuated the inhibitory effects of AFAP1‑AS1 knockdown on OSCC cells. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that AFAP1‑AS1 may promote the progression of OSCC by regulating the miR‑145/HOXA1 axis. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Continuing a series on  much-travelled rulers used for scale in photographs of xenograft tumors . Fig 8B from [Yun et al (2021)] .  Representative images of tumor xenografts obtained from the sh-CERS6-AS1 and sh-NC groups . ![file] **Fig 6B from [Li et al (2020)] **.  Images of tumors . ![file] Fig 6A from [Yu et al (2021)] .  Representative photographs of tumor xenografts obtained from the shLINC00504 and sh-NC groups . ![file] All three images are notable for the distinctive damage at 9-cm. The three research teams are at Jilin University, though at different departments, with no authors in common. Were they passing the ruler around? ![file] The same design of ruler features in two other papers published at the same time, but do not show the damaged section, so perhaps they are different examples. *[left]* Fig 7A from [Cheng et al (2021)] .  Representative images of tumor xenografts harvested from the sh-UBA6-AS1 and sh-NC groups . *[right]* Fig 7A from [Chen, Gao Zhu (2021)] .  Images of excised tumour xenografts . ![file] , 
 Retracted [21 March 2022] .  Following the publication of the above article, an interested reader drew the authorsu2019 attention to the fact that certain features shown in Fig. 6B, illustrating the tumors extracted from the animal in vivo experiments, were strikingly similar to images that had appeared in other papers by different authors published at around the same time. The authors conceded that the in vivo experiments reported in this study had been performed by a third party. Therefore, in the interests of preserving accuracy in the scientific record, the authors requested that this paper be retracted from the Journal. The Editor is in agreement that the paper should be retracted. All authors agree with the retraction of this article, and the Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,