Long noncoding RNA CASC2 inhibits ox-LDL-mediated vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation and migration via the regulation of miR-532-3p/PAPD5
Authors: Xiaodong Nan
Xiaokun Wang
Shuangsheng Huang
Jin Zhao
Feng Sun
Chenjing Wang
Shijie Ma
Zhong Guo
Journal: Molecular Medicine (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Atherosclerosis; CASC2; PAPD5; miR-532-3p.
Affiliations: School of Basic Medical Sciences, Northwest Minzu University Health Science Center, No. 1, XibeiXincun Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, 730030, People's Republic of China. ., School of Basic Medical Sciences, Northwest Minzu University Health Science Center, No. 1, XibeiXincun Chengguan District, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, 730030, People's Republic of China., Department of intensive care unit, Gansu Provincial Corps Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Force, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province, 730050, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Background: Studies have demonstrated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have essential impacts on the development of atherosclerosis (AS). This study aimed to identify the role and functional mechanism of lncRNA CASC2 in the development and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Method: The serum of 40 pairs of AS patients and healthy volunteers were collected and the expression of CASC2 was evaluated. qRT-PCR and western blotting were carried out to examine the expression levels of at mRNA and protein level, repectively. Cell proliferation assay, colony formation assay, transwell migration assay, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and wound healing assay were conducted to evaluate cell proliferation, colony formation, migration, transcription, targeting, and self-restoration. Results: The expression levels of CASC2 were decreased, while the expression levels of miR-532-3p were elevated in AS patient samples and VSMCs. Overexpression of CASC2 inhibited the proliferation and migration of VSMCs and enhanced cell apoptosis. CASC2 inhibited the expression of miR-532-3p, and inversely upregulated the expression of PAPD5, which was a target of miR-532-3p. In addition, knockdown of miR-532-3p-mimic and PAPD5 could attenuate the impact of overexpression of CASC2 on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in ox-LDL-VSMCs. Conclusion: CASC2 suppressed cell reproduction and promoted cell apoptosis by regulating the miR-532-3p/PAPD5 axis in ox-LDL-mediated VSMCs. This might be important for AS therapeutics. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 An image in Figure 4C seems unexpectedly similar to 3b in a paper submitted a month apart, Cancer Cell International (2020), doi: 10.1186 s12935-020-01170-6, discussed here: https: pubpeer.com publications 71BAE36BAC16EE28EF96DC1085DACD. There does not appear to be any overlap between the authors or affiliated institutions. Even if this was an error during figure assembly, could the authors explain how both groups had access to this image? It suggests that perhaps a common group prepared both papers. *** ![file] , 
 #1 Another sighting! Fig 3F of  microRNA-18a from M2 Macrophages Inhibits TGFBR3 to Promote Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Progression and Tumor Growth via TGF-u03b2 Signaling Pathway ([Peng et al 2020] ). ![] ,