MicroRNA‑153 functions as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer via targeting Kruppel‑like factor 5
Authors: Weijie Yuan
Sainan Qiu
Yanlan Ouyang
Journal: Experimental and therapeutic medicine (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Kruppel-like factor 5; gastric cancer; microRNA-153; tumor suppressor.
Affiliations: Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China., Department of Colorectal Anal Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Various microRNAs (miRs) have been demonstrated to serve important roles in gastric cancer (GC). miR-153 in particular has been reported to serve a suppressive role in GC; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were used to examine the mRNA and protein expression of Kruppel-like factor 5. An MTT, wound healing and transwell assay were used to study cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. In the present study, quantitative polymerase chain reaction data indicated that miR-153 was significantly downregulated in GC tissues compared with the adjacent non-tumor tissues. In addition, the reduced expression of miR-153 was significantly associated with GC aggressiveness and poor prognosis of patients. The expression of miR-153 was also reduced in GC cell lines, including KATO III, NCI-N87, SNU-16 and SNU-5, when compared with normal gastric epithelial GES-1 cells. Overexpression of miR-153 in the GC SNU-5 cells by miR-153 mimic transfection significantly inhibited the cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, KLF5 was identified as a target gene of miR-153 in SNU-5 cells by bioinformatics prediction. It was observed that KLF5 was significantly upregulated in GC tissues and cell lines, and its expression was negatively regulated by miR-153 in SNU-5 cells. Overexpression of KLF5 impaired the suppressive effects of miR-153 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of SNU-5 cells. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that miR-153 serves a tumor suppressive role in GC, at least partly, through directly targeting KLF5, thus highlighting the clinical significance of miR-153 in GC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 2E, 6E. Transwell assays. ![file] After rotations through 90 deg, the panels match sections of panels in Figs 2D, 5E from [Liang et al (2017)] ... ![file] ...Figs 3 C,D and 8 C,D from [Liu et al (2017)] . ![file] Other manifestations are linked in those threads. , 
 Retracted [7 February 2022] .  Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editorsu2019 attention by a concerned reader that the Transwell cell migration assay data shown in Figs. 2E and 6E were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published elsewhere, or were already under consideration for publication, prior to its submission to *Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine*, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive any reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,