Silencing of GP73 inhibits invasion and metastasis via suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huarong Zhao
Hua Zhang
Qiang Liu
Yongxing Bao
Chunli Jia
Ruin Mao
Zhipeng Li
Ying Yang
Sha Ya
Journal: Oncology Reports (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Golgi protein 73; hepatocellular carcinoma; invasion; metastasis
Affiliations: Department of Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of XinJiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China., Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of XinJiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830054, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is associated with invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Golgi protein 73 (GP73) is a serum biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and our previous study demonstrated that the expression of GP73 correlated with aggressive behavior and EMT molecules in HCC. However, its role in metastatic mechanism of HCC is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of GP73 on invasion and migration, and underlying mechanism of GP73 involved in EMT of HCC. The expression of GP73 was downregulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA). The metastatic and invasive abilities were analyzed using scratch assay and Transwell assay. Changes in EMT-related molecules were evaluated by western blot and qRT‑PCR analyses, and epithelial-mesenchymal phenotype changes were also observed. Expression of GP73 was upregulated in the more metastatic HCC cell lines. Knockdown of GP73 by siRNA resulted in a significant decrease in migratory and invasive abilities in both MHCC97H and Bel-7404 cell lines. Importantly, EMT-related markers and morphological phenotypes significantly changed following by the inhibition of GP73. Silencing GP73 contributed to the reduction of invasion and metastasis via suppressing EMT in HCC. GP73 may serve as a novel molecular target against EMT in HCC metastasis therapy. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 3A * Red boxes: Two panels appear to show an overlap. ![file] , 
 Figure 3B. * Blue boxes: Four of the six panels appear to show an overlap. ![file] , 
 Figure 4A. * Green boxes: The MHCC97H Vimentin panel looks unexpectedly similar to the Bel-7404 Snail panel. ![file] , 
 Figure 4C. * Pink boxes: The two panels on the right appear to be showing an overlap. ![file]  This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81560388). , 
 Panels in Figure 4A of this paper also appear to look similar to panels in Figures 2A and 3A of another paper by the same group, where they represent a different cell line. That paper is: Ying Yang et al. Carcinogenesis. 2018 Jul 3;39(7):900-910, DOI: 10.1093 carcin bgy010, https: pubpeer.com publications 6E4B90E2DED3784157CD7D5F0FA794 ![file] ![file] , 
 #2 #1 Dear Elisabeth M Bikuff0cThank you for your interest of our study and pointing the mistakes out. In Figure 3A and Figure 3B, the Scratch assay and the Transewell assay were done to explore the role of GP73 in migration and invasion in HCC cells. Regrettably, In Fig. 3A, the data for the u2018Blank groupu2019 at 0 hour in Bel-7404 cells in the scratch assay had inadvertently been selected twice. And the data images of u2018Blanku2019 and u2018Negativeu2019 groups were erroneously chosen in Transwell assay in Fig. 3B. We have checked the primary data of the assays, and corrected the Figure3A and 3B in the following figures. Now, we have contacted with the editor office of Oncology reports to make correction of this figure. Again many thanks for your comments.![file] , 
 #4 #3 Dear Elisabeth M Bikuff0cThank you for your interest of our study and pointing this mistake out. In Figure 4A and Figure 4C, by knocking down effect of GP73, the Vimentin and Snail protein expression changes were detected by Western blot; and the cells morphological changes were observed by microscope. However, in the process of displaying the pictures, the u2018Snailu2019 panel was incorrectly selected in Bel-7404 cells in Figure 4A. Similarly, The cell morphology photos of u2018Negativeu2019 group in Bel-7404 cells was wrong chosen in Figure 4C. We have checked the original data of these assays, and corrected the pictures. Now, we have contacted with the editor office of Oncology reports to make correction of this figure. Again many thanks for your comments.![file] , 
 Dear Elisabeth M Bikuff0c Thank you for your interest of our study and pointing out the mistakes. we have answered the above questions, and have contacted with the editor office of Oncology reports to make corrections. The errors will not affect the final conclusion. We apologize for the inconvenience. Best regards, YingYang. , 
 #1 Dear Elisabeth M Bikuff0c Thank you for your interest of our study and pointing out the mistakes. we have answered the above questions, and have contacted with the editor office of Oncology reports to make corrections. The errors will not affect the final conclusion. We apologize for the inconvenience. Best regards, YingYang. ,