<p>Long Non-Coding RNA LINC00491 Contributes to the Malignancy of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer via Competitively Binding to microRNA-324-5p and Thereby Increasing Specificity Protein 1 Expression</p>
Authors: Xiaoning Zhang
Xia Zhao
Liqun Xing
Yanqing Wang
Journal: Cancer Management and Research (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: ceRNA hypothesis; long non-coding RNA; non-small-cell lung cancer management.
Affiliations: Department of Chest Surgery, Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 262500, People's Republic of China., Department of Surgical, Jinan Infectious Disease Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250021, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Background: A long non-coding RNA termed as long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 491 (LINC00491) has been validated as an oncogene to promote cancer progression in colon adenocarcinoma. The goal of this study was to determine the expression and carcinogenic functions of LINC00491 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Besides, it was aimed to understand how LINC00491 affects the malignant processes of NSCLC cells. Methods: The expression of LINC00491 in NSCLC was investigated by bioinformatic analysis and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. After LINC00491 knockdown, cell counting kit-8 assay, flow cytometry, migration and invasion detection assays as well as nude mice xenograft assay were conducted to test the roles of LINC00491 in NSCLC cells. Two online databases, StarBase 3.0 and miRDB, were utilized to determine the putative target miRNA of LINC00491, and the prediction was subsequently confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, Western blotting, and rescue assays. Results: LINC00491 was overexpressed in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Functional investigation revealed that depleted LINC00491 facilitated cell apoptosis and decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Additionally, the downregulation of LINC00491 impaired NSCLC cell tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, LINC00491 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA by sponging microRNA-324-5p (miR-324-5p) in NSCLC cells. miR-324-5p was weakly expressed in NSCLC and exerted tumor-suppressing actions during cancer progression. Furthermore, specificity protein 1 (SP1) was validated as the direct target of miR-324-5p in NSCLC and was under the regulation of LINC00491 via sponging miR-324-5p. Rescue experiments reconfirmed that miR-324-5p inhibition and SP1 overexpression both abrogated the suppressive roles of LINC00491 deficiency in NSCLC cells. Conclusion: LINC00491 promoted the oncogenicity of NSCLC via serving as a miR-324-5p sponge, which further upregulated the expression of SP1. The LINC00491/miR-324-5p/SP1 pathway disclosed a new mechanism of NSCLC pathogenesis and may provide effective targets for better NSCLC treatment. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Three flow-cytometry plots share most of their points in common, suggesting that they come from the same raw data file (differently gated and filtered). I have adjusted contrast and aspect ratios for ease of comparison. ![file] Three more plots sharing most of their points in common. ![file] Here in context. Figs 1F, 3C, 5C, 6C. ![file] Figs 2D, 4C, 6C from [Han, Huang Han (2020)] . ![file] There may be other matching panels. , 
 #1 **Four* panels sharing most of their points in common. ![file] Left-hand panel is from Figs 2C, 5D of [Li et al (2020)] . ![file] , 
 Retracted, [27 September 2021] . ---------------------------------- The Editor and Publisher of Cancer Management and Research wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised over alleged image duplication in Figures 3C and 6C with similar images from unrelated articles, specifically: - Figure 3C, panel SK-MES-1 miR-324-5p mimic appears to have been duplicated with a similar image in Figure 4C from Han et al, 2020 . - Figure 6C, panel H522 si-LINC00491+pcDNA3.1 appears to have been duplicated with similar images in Figure 4C and 6C from Han et al, 2020 . The authors responded to our initial queries but were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the alleged duplication and could not provide satisfactory original data for their study. The Editor advised for the article to be retracted. Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u201cRetractedu201d. ,