MicroRNA‑338‑3p targets SOX4 and inhibits cell proliferation and invasion of renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Lixin Wang
Jinsong Wang
Xianfeng Meng
Zhigang Tong
Journal: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: microRNA; microRNA-338-3p; proliferation; renal cell carcinoma; sex-determining region Y-box 4.
Affiliations: Department of Urinary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China., Department of Medical Insurance, Jilin Academy of Chinese Medicine Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China.

Abstract:  MicroRNA (miR)-338-3p has been reported to be involved in tumor progression and development in various types of cancer. However, the biological function of miR-338-3p and its related molecular pathways involved in the progression of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the biological role and underlying mechanism of miR-338-3p in RCC cells. It was demonstrated that miR-338-3p expression level was significantly downregulated (P&lt;0.05) in RCC tissues and cell lines. Clinical association analysis indicated that low expression of miR-338-3p was significantly associated with advanced TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P&lt;0.05). Function assays revealed that restoration of miR-338-3p in RCC cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion (P&lt;0.05). Notably, sex-determining region Y-box 4 (SOX4) was identified as a direct target of miR-338-3p in RCC cells through a luciferase reporter assay, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Furthermore, SOX4 overexpression partially rescued miR-338-3p-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion in RCC cells. These results suggested that miR-338-3p functioned as a tumor suppressor in RCC cells by modulating SOX4, suggesting that miR-338-3p may have a potential use in the treatment of RCC. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 3D.  Western blot analysis of SOX4 protein expression in RCC cells following transfection with miR-338-3p or miR-NC . ![file] This is a versatile loading control. Fig 4C from [Liu et al (2018)] .  E-cadherin and vimentin protein expression measured by western blotting in SKOV3 and A2780 cells transfected with either si-NC or si-LINC00460 . ![file] AKT, in Fig 6 from [Wu et al (2015)] . ![file] Other manifestations linked in those threads. , 
 Fig 5A.  SOX4 protein expression was determined in RCC cells co-transfected with miR-338-3p mimic or miR-NC and SOX4 overexpression vector . ![file] Fig 3C from [Li et al (2018)] .  Western blotting analysis of the levels of epithelial to mesenchymal transition-related proteins (N-cadherin, Vimentin, and E-cadherin) in SCC-9 cells transfected with sh-LINC00152 or sh-NC . ![file] Other appearances of the loading control include Fig 4C from [Wen et al (2015)] . ![] 5B from [Dong et al (2016)] ![] , 
 October 5, 2021 The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised over the alleged image duplication of images in Figure 2A and Figure 2C, and the alleged duplication of images in Figure 2C with similar images from an unrelated article, specifically: Figure 2A, panel A549 0h si-NC appears to show duplicated elements with panel H1299 0h si-NC; panel A549 0h si-SOX2OT appears to show duplicated elements with panel H1299 0h si-SOX2OT; panel H1299 0h si-SOX2OT appears to show duplicated elements with panel H1299 24h si-SOX2OT. Figure 2C, panels Vimentin and GAPDH appear to have been duplicated in Figure 3D from Tong et al, 2017 (DOI: 10.3892 etm.2017.5169). The authors did not respond to our queries and the Editor determined the findings of the study were no longer valid and advised for the article to be retracted. Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u201cRetractedu201d. ,