MicroRNA‑24‑1‑5p promotes malignant melanoma cell autophagy and apoptosis via regulating ubiquitin D
Authors: Qingchun Diao
Kang Zeng
Yanhua Liang
Yusheng Peng
Yujuan Xiao
Journal: Molecular Medicine Reports (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: microRNA; miR-24-1-5p; autophagy; apoptosis; malignant melanoma
Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China., Department of Dermatology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400011, P.R. China., Department of Dermatology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518100, P.R. China.

Abstract:  The present study aimed to investigate the key roles and possible regulatory mechanism of microRNA (miR)‑24‑1‑5p in regulating the autophagy, and apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells. The expression levels of miR‑24‑1‑5p in malignant melanoma tissues were determined. Human melanoma A375 cells were transfected with miR‑24‑1‑5p mimic and control. The effects of miR‑24‑1‑5p overexpression on regulating the expressions of autophagy‑related proteins [microtubule‑associated protein 1A/1B‑light chain 3 (LC3)‑II, LC3‑I and Beclin‑1] and apoptosis‑related proteins [apoptosis regulator Bcl‑2 (Bcl‑2) and (BCL2 like 1) Bcl‑xL] were investigated. The percentage of apoptotic cells in different transfected cells was detected. In addition, luciferase reporter assays were performed to confirm whether ubiquitin D (UBD) was a target of miR‑24‑1‑5p. The effects of UBD silencing on autophagy and apoptosis were also investigated. The expression levels of janus kinase (JNK), phosphorylated (P)‑JNK, Jun proto‑oncogene AP‑1 transcription factor subunit (c‑Jun) and p‑c‑Jun were determined following the overexpression of miR‑24‑1‑5p, and UBD. In comparison with adjacent normal tissues, miR‑24‑1‑5p was significantly downregulated in malignant melanoma tissues. Overexpression of miR‑24‑1‑5p significantly increased the levels of LC3‑II/I ratio and Beclin‑1 expression, and decreased the expression levels of Bcl‑2 and Bcl‑xL. Flow cytometry also showed that miR‑24‑1‑5p overexpression promoted cell apoptosis. Moreover, UBD was confirmed as a direct target of miR‑24‑1‑5p. Silencing of UBD promoted melanoma cell autophagy and apoptosis via regulating the expression levels of related proteins. Besides, the levels of the p‑JNK/JNK and p‑c‑Jun/Jun ratios were significantly increased following miR‑24‑1‑5p overexpression, which were reversed following co‑overexpression of miR‑24‑1‑5p, and UBD. Overexpression of miR‑24‑1‑5p may target UBD, and subsequently promote the autophagy and apoptosis of malignant melanoma cells through activation of the JNK signaling pathway. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 2B C. ![file] Compare the marked panel with Fig 2C of [Chen et al (2018)] ... ![] ... Fig 2A of [Huang et al (2017)] ... ![] ... Fig 2D of [Liu et al (2019)] . ![] If I may quote Elisabeth Bik: ------------------------------- This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: - https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) - https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: - Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 - Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 ,