Retracted: Epigenetic silenced miR‐125a‐5p could be self‐activated through targeting Suv39H1 in gastric cancer
Authors: Mingzhi Cai
Juntao Shen
Chenbing Lv
Qiuxian Chen
Lisheng Cai
Journal: Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Suv39H1; epigenetic silence; gastric cancer; miR-125a-5p.
Affiliations: Department of General Surgery, Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Zhangzhou City, China.

Abstract:  Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) serve an important role in tumorigenesis and development. Although the low expression of miR-125a-5p in gastric cancer has been reported, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the current study, the low expression of miR-125a-5p in gastric cancer was verified in paired cancer tissues and adjacent non-tumour tissues. Furthermore, the GC islands in the miR-125a-5p region were hypermethylated in the tumour tissues. And the hypermethylation was negatively correlated with the miR-125a-5p expression. Target gene screening showed that the histone methyltransferase Suv39H1 was one of the potential target genes. In vitro studies showed that miR-125a-5p could directly suppress the Suv39H1 expression and decrease the H3K9me3 levels. On the other hand, the Suv39H1 could induce demethylation of miR-125a-5p, resulting in re-activation of miR-125a-5p. What is more, overexpessing miR-125a-5p could also self-activate the silenced miR-125a-5p in gastric cancer cells, which suppressed cell migration, invasion and proliferation in vitro and inhibited cancer progression in vivo. Thus, we uncovered here that the epigenetic silenced miR-125a-5p could be self-activated through targeting Suv39H1 in gastric cancer, suggesting that miR-125a-5p might be not only the potential prognostic value as a tumour biomarker but also potential therapeutic targets in gastric cancer. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This paper looks very similar to Hongxu Liu et al. Open Biol. (2018) 8: 180118, doi: 10.1098 rsob.180118. There are many similarities with other papers as well. I am still working on other similarities that both papers have to other papers, but posting this now before others do. In the figures comparisons below, the Cai et al. paper will be shown on the left, and the Liu et al paper will be shown on the right. * Left: Mingzhi Cai et al. J Cell Mol Med. 2018;22:4721u20134731, doi: 10.1111 jcmm.13716,  Epigenetic silenced miR-125a-5p could be self-activated through targeting Suv39H1 in gastric cancer (this paper) * Right: Hongxu Liu et al. Open Biol. (2018) 8: 180118, doi: 10.1098 rsob.180118,  Reduced miR-125a-5p level in non-small- cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression . See: https: pubpeer.com publications 5C4CE1170930C517CB660480C85DA9#2 Note that the Cai paper reports on 286 gastric cancer patients from Zhangzhou Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. In contrast, the Liu paper reports on 384 non-small-cell lung cancer pateitns from China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute. ![file] Figures 1: the Kaplan curves look very similar. ![file] Figures 2: the line graphs and Western blots (albeit in different order) look very similar. ![file] Figures 3: the line graphs and Western blots (albeit in different order) look very similar. ![file] Figures 4: the line graphs look very similar. ![file] Figures 5: the line graphs look very similar. ![file] Tables 2 and 3: many numbers look very similar. Boxes of the same color highlight rows that look identical. ![file] , 
 This paper is part of a set of at least 8 papers that have similar Kaplan-Meier curves, table values, line graphs, and some Western blots. These papers are from different authors, different hospitals, and describe different patients groups, different cancers, and different proteins. The 8 papers are: * Kuangkuang Zhu et al., International Immunopharmacology 84 (2020) 106474, doi: 10.1016 j.intimp.2020.106474 Interleukin-36 receptor antagonist is associated with the progression of renal cell carcinoma * Mingfei Sun et al. Cell Physiol Biochem 2018;51:1839-1851. doi: 10.1159 000495706 Interleukin-35 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is Associated with Tumor Progression * Mingzhi Cai et al. J Cell Mol Med. 2018;22:4721u20134731, doi: 10.1111 jcmm.13716 Epigenetic silenced miR-125a-5p could be self-activated through targeting Suv39H1 in gastric cancer * Hongxu Liu et al. Open Biol. (2018) 8: 180118, doi: 10.1098 rsob.180118 Reduced miR-125a-5p level in non-small- cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression * Feng Wang et al. Open Biol. (2018) 8: 180132. doi: 10.1098 rsob.180132 Reduced interleukin-38 in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with tumour progression * Xiaofei Yan et al. Oncotarget, 2017, Vol. 8, (No. 30), pp: 49064-49075, doi: 10.18632 oncotarget.17093 Interleukin-37 mediates the antitumor activity in colon cancer through u03b2-catenin suppression * Xiuli Wang et al. Oncotarget, 2017, Vol. 8, (No. 58), pp: 98918-98930, doi: 10.18632 oncotarget.22041 Reduced m6A mRNA methylation is correlated with the progression of human cervical cancer * Jian Zhang et al. Oncotarget, 2017, Vol. 8, (No. 42), pp: 71563-71573, doi: 10.18632 oncotarget.17751 Interleukin-35 expression is associated with colon cancer progression As an example, here are the Kaplan curves from all 8 papers. Some have a middle black line that is not present in all 8, but the red and green curves have a surprisingly similar shape. ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] , 
 As another example of the similarities between these eight papers, here are the tables representing the Univariate and Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Colored boxes highlight rows with identical or very similar numbers found across these papers. ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] , 
 Retraction, January 4, 2021. Retraction notice found here: https: onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi 10.1111 jcmm.15847 It reads:  The above article from Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, published online on 17 August 2018 on Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) and in Volume 22, pp. 4721u20104731, has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editoru2010inu2010Chief and John Wiley Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed because parts of the data and figures that the authors presented in the paper are flawed. The conclusions drawn from the data and figures presented could not be considered as reliable. ,