microRNA-613 exerts anti-angiogenic effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through inactivating the AKT signaling pathway by down-regulating FN1
Authors: Qiaolei Feng
Guolin Tan
Ru Gao
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: AKT signaling pathway; FN1; Invasion; MicroRNA-613; Migration
Affiliations: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410013, P.R. China., Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hunan Aerospace Hospital, Changsha 410205, P.R. China., Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410013, P.R. China .

Abstract:  Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a disease highly sensitive to radiotherapy with the unclear etiology. However, the specific effects of microRNA-613 (miR-613) on NPC still remain elusive. Therefore, the present study probes into the underlying mechanism of miR-613 in NPC via AKT signaling pathway by regulating Fibronectin 1 (FN1).Methods: First, microarray analysis was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and regulatory miRs associated with NPC. Next, miR-613 and FN1 expression in NPC cells was determined, followed by verification of target relationship between miR-613 and FN1. With NPC cells exposed to miR-613 mimic, si-FN1 and LY294002 (inhibitor of AKT signaling pathway), the regulatory effects of miR-613 on proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, migration and angiogenesis of NPC cells were detected with ratio of B-cell lymphoma 2/Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bcl-2/Bax), Cleaved-caspase3, matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31) expression measured. Then, tumorigenesis and MVD were determined after Xenograft in nude mice.Results: FN1 modulated by miR-613 was critical for NPC via the AKT signaling pathway. NPC cells exhibited down-regulated miR-613 and up-regulated FN1. Besides, miR-613 was verified to target FN1. Moreover, overexpressed miR-613, silenced FN1 or LY294002 treatment suppressed proliferation, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis in NPC cells, which was indicated by reduced expression of AKT, mTOR, MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, and CD31 as well as decreased ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and increased expression of Cleaved-caspase3. Furthermore, cell apoptosis was promoted and tumorigenesis and MVD in nude mice were inhibited with overexpression of miR-613, silenced FN1 or LY294002 treatment.Conclusion: Taken together, miR-613 inhibits angiogenesis in NPC cells through inactivating FN1-dependent AKT signaling pathway. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 3D appears to include two adjacent images which overlap. The authors may wish to examine the others in this figure more closely, as I did not. *** ![file] , 
 #1 What were the odds? ![file] , 
 The Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues surrounding the scientific validity of this paper, hence has issued an expression of concern to notify readers whilst the Editorial Office investigates. , 
 #2 Thank you for your comments on this article uff08microRNA-613 exerts anti-angiogenic effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through inactivating the AKT signaling pathway by down-regulating FN1). We have recognized the mistakes in this paper. I have asked the first author (actual researcher and writer) to check the original scientific research data for photo errors, and contact the journal editors as soon as possible to discuss how to deal with the paper. , 
 December 10, 2020 This Correction follows an Expression of Concern relating to this article previously published by Portland Press. The authors of the original article above article u201cmicroRNA-613 exerts anti-angiogenic effect on nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells through inactivating the AKT signaling pathway by downregulating FN1u201d (Biosci Rep (2019) 39(7), 10.1042 BSR20182196) would like to correct Figure 3D. Due to the nonstandardised naming of pictures stored in transwell experiment and an error in the authorsu2019 figure creation, an incorrect image was selected for the blank group. The authors declare that these corrections do not change the results or conclusions of their paper, and express their sincere apologies for any inconvenience that this error has caused to the readers. The corrected version of Figure 3 is presented here. *** ![file] , 
 The corrected Figure 3E appears to have an overlap. *** ![file] , 
 Fig 4D,  cell migration of CNE1 cells after treatments with the mimic or inhibitor of miR-613 and FN1 as well as the LY294002 treatment detected by Transwell assay . ![] The panel marked with a brown rectangle also appears in Fig 11 A,B of [Liao et al (2018)] . ![] Fig 10B of [He et al (2018)] , ![] Fig 5A from [Sun, Xu Hu (2018)] , ![] Fig 8A,C from [Zhang et al (2018)] . ![] , 
 Retracted, [13 September 2021] . ---------------------------- This Retraction follows an Expression of Concern and Correction relating to this article previously published by Portland Press. This article is being retracted from *Bioscience Reports* at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board following receipt of a notification from a reader, alerting the Editorial Board to duplications in the original version of Figure 3D at the time of publication, duplications in Figure 3E introduced to the paper during the Correction, and a duplicated panel in Figure 4D that overlaps with several prior publications by different authors. The authors have been contacted in regards to the Retraction, and have not responded to the Journal s queries and the concerns raised. Given the extent of the issues raised, the Editorial Board stand by the decision to retract the article. , 
 it is right decision to retract this article. , 
 I compiled a montage of the Western Blots from this paper, as they may be relevant for other papers with WBs that appear to sample the same corner of  morphology space . ![file] , 
 Dear Dr. Hoya. Thank you for pointing out all the mistakes in this paper. I m very sorry that the doctors in our Department have made academic misconduct. Retract this article was a very correct choice. We will punish the authors accordingly. I investigated the process of this study. Dr. Gao did biological information analysis and a small number of experiments, and then cooperated with a biotechnology company to complete a series of experiments. The original data of these experiments they provided were shared with other researchers. This is an extremely bad thinguff0c we need to eradcate it. , 
 Fig 3D again: ![file] Fig 4C from  LncRNA XIST depletion prevents cancer progression in invasive pituitary neuroendocrine tumor by inhibiting bFGF via upregulation of microRNA-424-5p ([Zhou et al 2019] ): ![file] , 
 Our University officials have invesitgated this paper, which is a serious academic misconduct. Dr. Gao was punished by hospital. ,