Long Intergenic Noncoding RNA 00261 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Regulating miR-105/FHL1 Axis
Authors: Runsheng Li
Bo Yang
Zhiqiang Wang
Jiru Zhang
Yong Mao
Zhenjun Wang
Haifeng Yu
Chuanxin Liu
Linfang Jin
Qingjun You
Journal: Journal of Cancer (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: FHL1; LINC00261; Non-small cell lung cancer; miR-105.
Affiliations: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214062, China., Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214062, China., Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214062, China., Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214062, China., Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214062, China., Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214062, China.

Abstract:  Purpose: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have recently received more attention for their roles in tumor progression. LINC00261 was studied in this research to identify how it affects the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Firstly, the expression of LINC00261 in NSCLC cells and paired samples of NSCLC tissue was detected by RT-qPCR. Then, the associations between LINC00261 expression level and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated. Furthermore, functional assays of cell proliferation, colony formation and transwell, as well as western blot assay, luciferase assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were conducted. Afterwards, the effects of LINC00261 expression on NSCLC formation and growing were confirmed by in vivo models. Results: As results, expression of LINC00261 was significantly down-regulated in tumor samples than that in normal samples, which was correlated with the lymphatic metastasis, tumor size, tumor stage as well as patient survival time. Knockdown of LINC00261 inhibited tumor growth and invasion ability in vitro. In addition, miR-105 was identified as a direct target of LINC00261 via mechanism experiments and its expression in tumor tissues negatively correlated to LINC00261 expression. Further experiments found that Four and expression of Half LIM domains 1 (FHL1) was negatively correlated with miR-105 but positively with LINC00261. Moreover, in vivo assays verified the overexpression of LINC00261 could suppress formation of NSCLC and regulate the expression of miR-105/FHL1 axis. Conclusions: These results indicate that LINC00261 could suppress metastasis and proliferation of NSCLC via suppressing miR-105/FHL1 axis, which may offer a new vision for interpreting the mechanism of NSCLC development. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of a set of 121 papers that all contain images from the same library of about 100 photos and plots. This is unexpected, because each paper has different authors and different affiliations, with little to no overlap, and describes different cancer types and molecules. It would be very hard to explain how authors from different labs would all obtain the same photo. Therefore, the papers might have all be derived from the same source, such as a paper mill that sells ready-to-be-published papers. This  Stock Photo paper set has been described in more detail on my blog post, https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 07 05 the-stock-photo-paper-mill and in a Wall Street Journal article by Eva Xiao (currently behind a paywall): https: www.wsj.com articles chinese-research-papers-raise-doubts-fueling-global-questions-about-scientific-integrity-11593939600 The vast majority (113 121) of the papers were published in the same journal, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (ERMPS). A link to the full set of papers can be found here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 172RWS18w1lTNJ9Nnj80fuXXTqTm4fGkoK0sdYyvKE3g edit?usp=sharing All papers have been reported to the journal editors on July 2, 2020. ,