MiR-17 Regulates Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis Through Inhibiting JAK-STAT3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Sheng Wang
Zhihai Yu
Yin Liu
Chunmei Wang
Hong Dai
Donglin He
Kun Yu
Journal: Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals (2018)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: STAT3; apoptosis; miR-17; proliferation; prostate cancer.
Affiliations: 1 Department of Urology Surgery, Three Gorges Central Hospital , Chongqing, China ., 2 Department of Traumatology, Three Gorges Central Hospital , Chongqing, China .

Abstract:  Objective: STAT3 is an important protein in Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway that facilitates B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression. MiR-17 was found to be significantly reduced in prostate cancer tissues and cells, suggesting that it might be a tumor suppressor in prostate cancer tumorigenesis. Bioinformatics analysis showed the complementary binding site between miR-17 and STAT3. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-17 in regulating JAK-STAT signaling pathway, as well as prostate cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. Materials and methods: Dual luciferase assay was used to verify the targeted relationship between miR-155 and STAT3. LNCaP cells were cultured in vitro and divided into four groups, including mimic NC, miR-17 mimic, si-NC, and si-STAT3 groups. STAT3, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2 expressions were tested by western blot. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was assessed by EdU staining. Results: MiR-17 mimic transfection significantly reduced the relative luciferase activity in HEK293T cells. MiR-17 targeted regulated STAT3 expression. MiR-17 expression and cell apoptosis were obviously declined, while STAT3 level and cell proliferation markedly were elevated in LNCaP cells compared with RWPE-1 cells. MiR-17 mimic and/or si-STAT3 transfection significantly downregulated the expression of STAT3, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2, attenuated cell proliferation, and enhanced cell apoptosis in LNCaP cells. Conclusions: Upregulation of miR-17 inhibited LNCaP cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis by downregulating the expression of STAT3, p-STAT3, and Bcl-2. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Some Western Blots exhibit unexpected similarities within their backgrounds when contrast is increased. Here, Fig 4,  Transduced PNCM and H9c2 cells were pre-incubated with LEN before HYPO treatment, then the cells were subjected to ... (D) apoptosis-related protein (Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3) evaluation by Western blot. ![] Indicated bands are juxtaposed here: ![file] , 
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Statement of Retraction, 11 August 2021: https: www.tandfonline.com doi full 10.1080 21691401.2021.1951984  We, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Shaohui Zhang Yongliang Zhao (2019) Lentinan protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-induced injury by regulation of microRNA-22 Sirt1. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47:1, 3938u20133946, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1666863 Since publication, concerns have been raised about the integrity of the data in the article. When approached for an explanation, the authors have been unable to verify their original data. The authors have agreed to retract the article. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u2018Retractedu2019. , 
 A [report from the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College] , from September 30 2021, reads as follows {thanks Google Translate): --------------------- 13. The issue of  Lentinan protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-induced injury by regulation of microRNA-22 Sirt1 written by Zhao Yongliang from the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College as the corresponding author. After investigation, the paper  Lentinan protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia-induced injury by regulation of microRNA-22 Sirt1 with Zhao Yongliang as the corresponding author and Zhang Shaohui as the first author of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College has problems of buying and selling papers and paper fraud. The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College will deal with the relevant responsible persons as follows: 1. Give the corresponding author Zhao Yongliang (1) order him to make an in-depth inspection; (2) order him to withdraw the manuscript of the papers involved; (3) cancel the five-year application for science and technology plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), science and technology awards, science and technology projects Talent titles and other qualifications, from March 2, 2020 to March 1, 2025; (4) Cancellation of five-year postgraduate tutor application and appointment qualifications from March 2, 2020 to March 2025 1 day; (5) Cancellation of three-year professional title promotion qualifications from March 2, 2020 to March 1, 2023; (6) Criticism is reported in the hospital. 2. Give the first author Zhang Shaohui (1) order him to make a deep inspection; (2) cancel the five-year application for scientific and technological plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), scientific and technological awards, scientific and technological talents titles, etc., from March 2, 2020 From March 1, 2025 to March 1, 2025; (3) cancel the five-year postgraduate tutor application and appointment qualification, from March 2, 2020 to March 1, 2025; (4) cancel the three-year professional title promotion Eligibility, from March 2, 2020 to March 1, 2023; (5) Criticism is notified in the hospital. ,