Study of the biological function of LncRNA LUCAT1 on cervical cancer cells by targeting miR-199b-5p
Authors: Ting Yang
Shengnan Xia
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: LUCAT1; cervical cancer; diagnosis; invasion; miR-199b-5p
Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics, Fourth People's Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.

Abstract:  To explore the effect and mechanism of LncRNA LUCAT1 in cervical cancer (CC). In the present study, 67 cases of CC patients and 60 healthy cases were selected as the research objects. CC patients were selected as the study group (SG) and healthy physical examination patients were selected as the control group (CG). LUCAT1 expression level in peripheral blood was detected in the two groups. Human cervical carcinoma cells C33A, AV3 and normal cervical epithelial cells H8 were purchased for biological behavior analysis. LUCAT1 was highly expressed in SG and cancer tissues (P&lt;0.050), and it had good diagnostic value for the development of CC (P&lt;0.001). It was closely related to the differentiation, pathological stage and metastasis of CC (P&lt;0.001). The prognosis of CC patients was affected (P&lt;0.050). After transfecting LUCAT1 into CC cells, it was found that the proliferation, invasion ability and anti-apoptosis protein of CC cells were significantly reduced, while the apoptosis rate and apoptosis protein were significantly increased by inhibiting LUCAT1 expression (P&lt;0.050). However, after transfecting miR-199b-5p into CC cells, it was found that the proliferation, invasion ability and anti-apoptosis protein of CC cells were significantly increased, while the apoptosis rate and apoptosis protein were significantly decreased by inhibiting LUCAT1 expression (P&lt;0.050). LUCAT1 was highly expressed in CC. It was involved in the tumor development of CC by targeting miR-199b-5p, which was of great significance for the diagnosis and treatment of CC in the future. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 The bands on the Western blots in this paper had the misfortune of landing on a membrane with a repeated background. Top portion of one example from Figure 3 marked up in red below. *** ![file] , 
 We are also very sorry for this problem. To verify our research results, we re-run the WB experiment and re-tested the protein, and contacted the magazine to correct the picture. , 
 #2 Congratulations on generating similar results. Could the authors identify the lab that generated these results or provide the original scanned images? Also, can you provide an explanation for how the apparent repetitive background could occur by chance? , 
 #3 Thank you for your supervision. The image we uploaded for the first time is indeed our experimental image. We do not deny that there is a duplicate background. This may be accidental. For this reason, we actively contacted the magazine to upload the WB image of the second experiment. Modified. Thank you again for your active supervision. , 
 #4 Thank you again for your reply. I have two questions: 1. Are the original uncropped images from the original experiment still available? If yes, please provide those here. 2. Who performed the experiments and at what lab? The wording of the author contributions suggests the last author *may* have performed the experiments, but does not explicitly state this: u201cTing Yang contributed to the conception or design of the work. **Shengnan Xia contributed to the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work.** Shengnan Xia and Ting Yang drafted the manuscript, critically revised the manuscript. All gave final approval and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy.u201d I believe the answers to these questions is critical to determining if the authors performed the experiments or if some or all of this work was performed by others, as this paper has similar issues to another paper discussed here: https: pubpeer.com publications 446396714D544B9953AF77786015F2. , 
 July 24 Expression of Concern: The Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues surrounding the scientific validity of this paper, hence has issued an expression of concern to notify readers whilst the Editorial Office investigates. https: portlandpress.com bioscirep article 40 7 BSR-20200422_EOC 225874 Expression-of-Concern-Study-of-the-biological , 
 Retracted [8 June 2021] . -------------------------------- This Retraction follows an Expression of Concern relating to this article previously published by Portland Press. This article is being retracted from Bioscience Reports at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board following receipt of a notification from a reader, alerting the Editorial Board to unusual repeated background features in the Western blots. The authors have been contacted in regard to the retraction and were asked to provide the raw images for these Western blots. However as the images provided during the investigation differed from those in the published paper and appear to show signs of editing, the Editorial Board stands by the decision to retract. The authors were asked to agree to the retraction but did not respond to the Editorial Office. , 
 Fig 3D. ![file] Fig 4D. ![file] Fig 5F. ![file] Each panel contains a halo of regularly-spaced dots, surrounding a central clump with a curious texture, almost woven in appearance. Perhaps these are instrumentation artefacts of some kind. See also [Zhao et al (2020)] ; [Qu et al (2020)] ; [Wang, Zhao Wang (2020)] ; etc. ,