MicroRNA-138 suppresses cell proliferation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma via inhibiting EZH2 and PI3K/AKT signaling
Authors: Jie Sun
Fengzhi Si
Chunli Wang
Journal: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: enhancer of zeste homologue 2; laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma; microRNA; proliferation.
Affiliations: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830063, P.R. China.

Abstract:  MicroRNA (miR)-138 generally has a suppressive role in various human cancer types; however, its role and the underlying mechanisms in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) have remained to be elucidated. The present study assessed the clinical significance and regulatory mechanisms of miR-138 in LSCC progression. Reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that miR-138 was significantly downregulated in LSCC tissues and cell lines. In addition, the decreased expression of miR-138 was significantly associated with poor differentiation, lymph node metastasis and advanced clinical stage of LSCC. Restoration of miR-138 expression caused a significant decrease in the proliferation of Hep-2 LSCC cells, while knockdown of miR-138 significantly promoted Hep-2 cell proliferation. A luciferase reporter assay further identified enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) as a direct target gene of miR-138, and the protein expression of EZH2 was negatively regulated by miR-138 in Hep-2 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of EZH2 eliminated the suppressive effects of miR-138 on Hep-2 cell proliferation via activation of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling. In addition, EZH2 was found to be significantly upregulated in LSCC tissues and to be inversely correlated to the miR-138 levels. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR-138 inhibits the proliferation of LSCC cells, at least partly via targeting EZH2 and inhibiting PI3 K/AKT signaling. The present study highlighted the clinical significance of the miR-138/EZH2 axis in LSCC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 4A B; 5A,C,D. ![file] Many of these WB bands appear repeatedly in an oeuvre of papers. The coloured rectangles correspond to: Fig 6B from [Zhou et al (2017)] . Figs 7A,B, 9B from [Liu et al (2017)] . Figs 3B, 4B from [Dang et al (2017)] . Fig 4A from [Jiang et al (2017)] . ![file] ![] *[above]* Figs 3H, 4A from [Zhou et al (2016a)] ; and [below] Figs 4C D from [Zhou et al (2016b)] .  Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of EMT-related genes . ![file] Fig 7 of [Dai et al (2016)] . ![file] , 
 The corresponding author has chosen or been assigned an unexpected e-address,  xiangyawangcl@sina.com , implying an affiliation to the Xiangya Hospitals of Central South University (rather than to Xinjiang Medical University). I can only suppose that this was for consistency with most papers in this oeuvre. https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1I7uuhZ7NgMtzXFaJVfBPzP92JjCHO8tJDOjL8Y_9q1U edit?usp=sharing , 
 Retracted [2 August 2021] . ----------------------------------- Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editors attention by a concerned reader that the western blotting assay data shown in Figs. 4A and B, and 5A, C and D 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. ,