<p>Estrogen Receptor Beta Inhibits The Proliferation, Migration, And Angiogenesis Of Gastric Cancer Cells Through Inhibiting Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Signaling</p>
Authors: Yahua Wu
Xufeng Zhou
Benyi Yi
Yiping Zhang
Lili Wang
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: angiogenesis; estrogen receptor beta; gastric cancer; nuclear factor-kappa B; proliferation.
Affiliations: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Basic Medical College of Jiujiang University, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province 332000, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the regulatory roles of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) on gastric cancer (GC) cells, and reveal the potential mechanisms relating to nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. Methods: GC cell lines SGC7901 and MKN45 were transfected with pEGFP-C1-ERβ to overexpress ERβ, and treated with PMA (a NF-κB activator) to activate NF-κB signaling. The cell proliferation and migration, as well as the formation of vessel-like structures in human venous endothelial cells (HUVECs) were detected. The expression of ERβ, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, Ki67 (a proliferation marker), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), the DNA binding activity of NF-κB p65, the content of VEGF-A, and the activity of MMP-2 were detected in SGC7901 and MKN45 cells. Results: The transfection of pEGFP-C1-ERβ significantly increased the expression of ERβ in SGC7901 and MKN45 cells (P &lt; 0.05). Overexpression of ERβ in SGC7901 and MKN45 cells significantly decreased the cell activity, cell number in G2/M phase, cell migration, the expression of Ki67, VEGF-A and MMP-2, VEGF-A content, MMP-2 activity, as well as the number of vessel-like structures formed by HUVECs (P &lt; 0.05). Overexpression of ERβ also significantly decreased the DNA binding activity and the expression of p-NF-κB p65 in SGC7901 and MKN45 cells (P &lt; 0.05). The anti-tumor effect of ERβ overexpression on GC cells was reversed by the intervention of PMA (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Overexpression of ERβ inhibited the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of GC cells through inhibiting NF-κB signaling. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 4B. The ERbeta-Control panel, after a horizontal flip, overlaps considerably with the ERbeta+PMA panel. It also contains the Mock panel, apart from the circular central inset where the two images differ. ![file] MKN45 row. The Mock panel, rotated through 180 deg, overlaps with the ERbeta-Control panel. Flipped horizontally, it overlaps with the ERbeta-PMA panel. ![file] , 
 ![file] Let s look at some of these panels in close-up... Here s SGC7901 ERbeta-control. ![file] SGC7901 PMA and SGC7901 ERbeta+PMA. ![file] Now rotating the SGC7901 PMA panel through 90 deg to compare with the MKN45 equivalents... ![file] , 
 Figure 3B. * Yellow boxes: In the Mock row, the DAPI panels of SGC-7901 and MKN45 appear to show an overlap, while the Ki67 panels do not match at all. Of particular note, the cells marked in red in each of these panels are a different subset of the cells. They match perfectly with the blue DAPI stain, but they are different subsets between the left and right sets of panels. ![file] , 
 #3 ![file] , 
 Unfortunately, the editor in chief of this journal does not appear to be a big fan of this platform. He seems to have several papers of his own with unaddressed concerns: https: pubpeer.com search?q=Faris+Farassati , 
 Published 14 July 2020 The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. We were notified of potential image manipulation in the published article. The issues relate to the alleged duplication of images shown in Figures 3B, 4B and 5A. Despite repeated attempts to contact the authors, they have not responded to our queries within the required timeframe. The editor determined the findings of the study were no longer valid and requested for the article to be retracted. ,