PRC1 gene silencing inhibits proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis of retinoblastoma cells through the inhibition of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Yu-Jun Liao
Xiao-Wei Peng
Yan Deng
Xiao-Long Yin
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Wnt/β-catenin pathway; angiogenesis; invasion; proliferation; protein regulator of cytokinesis-1
Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University  Nanchang P.R. China

Abstract:  Retinoblastoma is an ocular malignancy occurring in childhood. The current study evaluates the ability of silenced PRC1 on retinoblastoma cell proliferation, and angiogenesis via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. A total of 36 cases of retinoblastoma tissues (n = 36) and normal retinal tissues (n = 10) were selected in the current study. Retinoblastoma cells presenting with the high PRC1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were selected among the WERI-Rb-1, HXO-RB44, Y79, SO-Rb50, and SO-Rb70 cells lines, and were transfected with siRNA-PRC1 and LiCl (the activator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway). The expressions of PRC1, VEGF, Wnt1, β-catenin, CyclinD1, extent of β-catenin, and GSK-3β phosphorylation were evaluated. Cell proliferation, cell-cycle distribution, and cell invasion of retinoblastoma cells were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay. The angiogenesis of retinoblastoma cells was detected by tube formation assay. HXO-RB44 and WERI-Rb-1 cells were selected owing to the highest PRC1 mRNA expression. Meanwhile, PRC2 gene silencing presented lower expression levels of PRC1, VEGF, Wnt1, β-catenin, CyclinD1, extent of β-catenin and GSK-3β phosphorylation, decreased proliferation and invasion abilities, extended G0/G1 phase, and shortened S and G2/M phases of HXO-RB44 and WERI-Rb-1 cells, suggesting the silenced PRC2 inactivated Wnt/β-catenin pathway, so as to further restrain the retinoblastoma cell proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. These results support the view that PRC1 gene silencing could suppress the proliferation, and angiogenesis of retinoblastoma cells by repressing the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 7A,  Cell cycle of HXOu2010RB44 cells after transfection . ![file] These appear to be hand-drawn. Overhangs marked. Fig 7C,  Cell cycle of WERIu2010Rbu20101 cells after transfection . ![file] I don t think that flow cytometry works like this. , 
 Here is a montage of curious Western Blots I collected, representing a distinct style. They are marked by high contrast and an absence of any background texture, and resemble ink blobs. They are not always sharp-edged; sometimes the ink appears to have spread, creating filaments. When there are double bands (ERK 1 2, JNK 1 2, LC3 I II, the sub-bands are somehow decoupled: differing in overall profile and in the width of the protein blobs, and with horizontal displacements, almost falling into different lanes. The papers that contain them tend to be problematic in other ways (some have been retracted). Their manifestations began in 2019 papers, and stopped in 2020 as if their use became deprecated. ![] Sources include - [He et al (2020)] - [Chang et al (2020)] - [Shang et al (2020)] - [Shi et al (2019)] *[RETRACTED]* - [Xu et al (2019)] *[RETRACTED]* - [Jia et al (2020)] - [Feng et al (2019)] Examples could be multiplied but I will settle for three more examples, to show the range of this gamut, from - [Qu et al (2019)] *[RETRACTED]* - [Song et al (2019)] *[RETRACTED]* - [Shi et al (2019)] . ![file] ---------------------------------------------- Here are the present Fig 5B D.  The relative protein expressions of PRC1, VEGF, Wnt1, u03b2u2010catenin, and CyclinD1 and the extents of u03b2u2010catenin and GSKu20103 phosphorylation in the HXOu2010RB44 cell line ... The relative protein expressions of PRC1, VEGF, Wnt1, u03b2u2010catenin, and CyclinD1 and the extents of u03b2u2010catenin and GSKu20103b phosphorylation in the WERIu2010Rbu20101 cell line. They appear to be manifestations of the same style. Is it possible for the authors to upload or link to scans of the original blots, to allay any concerns? ![file] , 
 Retracted [10 March 2022] . ----------------------- The above article, published online on 29 May 2019 in Wiley Online Library (doi:10.1002 jcb.28942) has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Gregg Fields, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed after the authors stated that unintentional errors occurred during the research process, and the experimental results cannot be verified. Thus, the conclusions are considered to be invalid. ,