Circular RNA CSNK1G1 promotes the progression of osteoarthritis by targeting the miR‑4428/FUT2 axis
Authors: Xu Cai
Zhizhong Ye
Rongsheng Wang
Jianwei Xiao
Weijian Zhou
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Medicine (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: circular RNA CSNK1G1; miR-4428; osteoarthritis; chondrocyte; fucosyltransferase 2.
Affiliations: Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, P.R. China, Shanghai Guanghua Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai 200000, P.R. China, Yunnan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan 650000, P.R. China

Abstract:  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease that results in chronic arthralgia and functional disability of the affected joint. To date, there is no effective treatment available for this disease. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of intracellular stable RNA that can regulate the development and progression of OA. However, the function of circCSNK1G1 in OA has not yet been investigated. In the present study, it was found that circCSNK1G1 was upregulated in OA cartilage tissues. The upregulation of circCSNK1G1 was associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis. Moreover, the expression of miR‑4428 was downregulated and that of fucosyltransferase 2 (FUT2) was upregulated in OA‑affected cartilage tissues. Dual‑luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation confirmed that miR‑4428 targeted FUT2 mRNA to inhibit FUT2 expression. circCSNK1G1 and FUT2 induced ECM degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis. The negative effects of circCSNK1G1 and FUT2 were reversed by miR‑4428. On the whole, the present study demonstrates that circCSNK1G1 promotes the development of OA by targeting the miR‑4428/FUT2 axis. Thus, the circCSNK1G1/miR‑4428/FUT2 axis may present a novel target for the treatment of OA in the clinical setting. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Retracted [4 January 2022] .  Following the publication of the above paper, upon having repeated some of the experiments and contrary to the results reported in the article, the authors have found that the expression of FUT2 did not decrease in the circCSNK1G1 knockdown rat model of osteoarthritis, and furthermore, the expression of FUT2 in the AMOu20114428 group was not increased compared with the control group. Moreover, the results of the Bclu20112 BAX experiments assessed by western blot analysis and the percentages of apoptotic cells detected by flow cytometry assay in the u2018miRu20114428 inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis by targeting FUT2u2019 subsection were **performed by an external biotechnology company**, and they have not been able to provide the raw data upon the authors submitting a request for these. Therefore, the authors have requested that the paper be retracted on account of a lack of confidence in the presented data. The Editor of *International Journal of Molecular Medicine* has agreed with the authors that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. All the authors agree to the retraction of this paper. The Editor and the authors apologize to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ![file] ,