MicroRNA‑137 has a suppressive role in liver cancer via targeting EZH2
Authors: Shichang Cui
Chengbiao Liu
Yang Liu
Guang Hao
Jinbao Wang
Yanlei Sun
Qidong Sun
Journal: Molecular Medicine Reports (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: microRNAs; miR-137; hepatocellular carcinoma; HCC; growth
Affiliations: Department of General Surgery, Central Hospital of Linyi, Linyi, Shandong 276400, P.R. China., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Central Hospital of Linyi, Linyi, Shandong 276400, P.R. China.

Abstract:  A variety of microRNAs (miRs) have been demonstrated to be associated with the development and malignant progression of human cancer; however, the regulatory mechanism of miR‑137 underlying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth and metastasis still remains to be fully revealed. In the present study, reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to examine mRNA and protein expression. MTT assay, wound healing assay and Transwell assay were performed to determine cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the targeting relationship. miR‑137 was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Low expression of miR‑137 was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, vein invasion, advanced clinical stage and poor prognosis in HCC. In addition, miR‑137 was also downregulated in several liver cancer cell lines compared with normal liver epithelial cells. Overexpression of miR‑137 led to a significant reduction in cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 cells. Enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) was further identified as a direct target gene of miR‑137, and the protein expression of EZH2 was negatively regulated by miR‑137 in HepG2 cells. Additionally, EZH2 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and liver cancer cell lines. Furthermore, overexpression of EZH2 significantly eliminated the inhibitory effects of miR‑137 on the malignant phenotypes of HepG2 cells. Therefore, the findings suggest that miR‑137 may have a suppressive role in HCC growth and metastasis via targeting EZH2. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 2E, 6E. Wound-healing assay. ![file] Coloured rectangles refer to the higher-resolution versions of the images in Fig 7 (LOVO half) from [Tian et al (2015)] . ![file] , 
 Figs 2D, 6D. ![file] For comparison, Fig 3A from [Dai et al (2015)] .  A Transwell assay was performed to determine the effect of Res on cell invasion of JJ012 chondrosarcoma cells . ![] Figs 4B and 5B from [Lei et al (2015)] .  Cell invasion assay was performed on MG63 cells with or without transfection with galectin-3-specific siRNA ;  Transwell assay was performed to examine the invasive capacity of MG63 cells transfected with galectin-3 siRNA, with or without pre-treatment of curcumin . ![] , 
 Retracted [1 March 2022] .  Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editorsu2019 attention by a concerned reader that the Transwell cell migration assay data shown in Fig. 2D and 6D, and the scratchu2011wound assay data in Figs. 2E and 6E, were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published elsewhere, or were already under consideration for publication, prior to its submission to *Molecular Medicine Reports*, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive any reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. , 
 Figure 6E seems to include images from a different paper as well. See https: pubpeer.com publications 5F478453E4217D7E7776DE268A282E#2 *** ![file] , 
 The papermill did not have a large supply of wound-heal migration-assay images, so they were recycled across dozens of papers. ![file] Marked by Column K in a [handy spreadsheet] . ,