Long noncoding RNA ZFAS1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation by epigenetically repressing miR-193a-3p
Authors: Y-F Zhou
H-L Zhou
Z-T Feng
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; Long noncoding RNAs; lncRNA ZFAS1; Development; Mechanism
Affiliations: Department of Respiration, Jining Infectious Disease Hospital, Jining, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in many diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of lncRNA ZFAS1 in the development of HCC and to explore its underlying mechanism. Patients and methods: Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was utilized to detect ZFAS1 expression in tissue samples of HCC patients. Subsequently, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, and EdU incorporation assay were performed to detect the function of ZFAS1 in vitro. Furthermore, mechanism assays were performed to explore the interaction between ZFAS1 and miR-193a-3p. Results: ZFAS1 was significantly highly expressed in HCC tissues than that of adjacent normal tissues. The growth ability of HCC cells was markedly inhibited after ZFAS1 was silenced. However, the growth ability of HCC cells was remarkably promoted after ZFAS1 overexpression. Moreover, RT-qPCR results revealed that miR-193a-3p was significantly down-regulated via the overexpression of ZFAS1. However, miR-193a-3p was significantly up-regulated via the knockdown of ZFAS1. Further experiments showed that miR-193a-3p was a direct target of ZFAS1 in HCC. Conclusions: ZFAS1 could enhance the proliferation of HCC cells by suppressing miR-193a-3p, which might be a potential therapeutic target in HCC. 

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. , 
 An investigation by Jining First People s Hospital (the authors institution), released 29 December 2021, calls for retraction. Can the journal editors confirm that they received a request to depublish the paper? https: www.jnrmyy.com keyan kxyj gonggao 2021 1229 6607.html -------------------------- 5. The paper  Long noncoding RNA ZFAS1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation by epigenetically repressing miR-193a was published by Feng Zhongtao of our hospital as the corresponding author, Zhou Huiling of Jining Infectious Disease Hospital as the first author, and Zhou Yingfan of Jining Psychiatric Prevention and Treatment Hospital as the co-first author. -3p , after investigation, it is an academic misconduct of fabricating the research process. Our hospital will deal with the relevant responsible persons as follows: Feng Zhongtao (corresponding author): cancel the application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, and scientific and technological talent plans within 5 years; cancel the 5-year nomination or recommender, nominated or recommender, Review experts and other qualifications; cancel their membership or membership in academic institutions such as societies, associations, etc.; order to contact the magazine as soon as possible to withdraw the manuscript; warning from the party. Jining Infectious Diseases Hospital has dealt with the relevant responsible persons as follows: Zhou Huiling (first author): cancel the recommendation qualification of deputy senior professional title in 2020. Zhou Yingfan (tied for the first author): Criticism was circulated in the hospital. ,