Down-regulation of pescadillo inhibits proliferation and tumorigenicity of breast cancer cells
Authors: Jueheng Wu
Liang Yu
Huizhong Zhang
Xiaoxi Li
Jie Yuan
Mengfeng Li
Jun Li
Journal: Cancer Science (2009)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Pescadillo; ribosomal biogenesis; embryonic development; DNA replication; gene transcription
Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract:  Pescadillo, which has been found to be involved in the process of ribosomal biogenesis, has been demonstrated to play a role in embryonic development, DNA replication, and gene transcription. While deregulation of ribosomal biogenesis was also found to contribute to carcinogenesis, and proteins that regulate ribosomal biogenesis are commonly overexpressed in primary tumors, little is known about the clinical significance and biological function of pescadillo in human breast cancer. In the current study, we found that the expression of pescadillo was markedly up-regulated in human breast cancer cells and tissues at both mRNA and protein levels. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that pescadillo expression in clinical stage I-IV primary breast cancer tissues was statistically significantly higher than that in normal breast tissues (P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, we demonstrated that knockdown pescadillo with RNAis inhibited cell proliferation and the colony-forming ability of the cells. Anchorage-independent growth ability assay indicated that ablation of pescadillo led to the reduction of breast cancer cells tumorigenicity in vitro. Moreover, depletion of endogenous pescadillo resulted in decreased expression of cell cycle protein cyclin D1 and up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1), as well as attenuated protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3beta) signaling. Taken together, our results suggest that pescadillo might play a role in promoting the proliferation and carcinogenesis of human breast cancer, and thereby might be a potential target for human breast cancer treatment. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig. 4A contains two WB bands which appear more similar than expected. This cannot be simply explained as a mistake during figure assembly, as one band was subjected to stretching manipulation. ![file] , 
 #1 Dear Sir Madam, The authors thank the reader for the comment on our article and are sorry for this error. The WB bands of Total GSK3-u03b2 and Total Rb for measuring total Rb in the vector-control or Pescadillo-silenced MDA-MB-435 cells were not subjected to stretching manipulation, but from the immunoblot images with different exposure times, which were mistakenly saved into different file folders. We are currently in the process of repeating experiments critical for the conclusion made in the original version of this article, and will contact the journal to request an erratum if necessary and permitted. As soon as receiving your comments about our articles, we are taking them very seriously and are currently looking into the image items questioned. Due to the large quantities of experimental data collected, particularly the large number of images obtained from the an extremely wide variety of experiments performed, as well as the highly intensive needs for appropriately storing them and correctly precisely assembling them when composing manuscripts, there is indeed a serious demand for improving the training and practice for data acquisition, storage and use when putting them together in a manuscript in the lab, to firmly ensure that all data are objectively and decently presented, and that they represent the truth found in our research. Particularly, as the duplication issues are widely uncovered in the life science research community, we have already set up high-level standards for experimental data acquisition, storage and processing in the lab and in all lab sub-groups. I sincerely apologize for any potential confusion caused by these unintentioned errors and will do our best to protect data accuracy and integrity. Again, I and my colleagues greatly appreciate your effort in finding and pointing out data handling issues, and your intention and motivation in keeping the integrity of science as well. Sincerely yours, Jun Li ,