MiR-23a-3p acts as an oncogene and potential prognostic biomarker by targeting PNRC2 in RCC
Authors: Yulin Lai
Yimin Hu
Jing Ye
Fangting Zhang
Xiang Pan
Jing Quan
Liwen Zhao
Yongqing Lai
Yawen Li
Liang Zhou
Lingzhi Tao
Zuwei Li
Canbin Lin
Hang Li
Yaoting Gui
Jingyao Wang
Journal: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Oncogene; PNRC2; Prognosis; Renal cell carcinoma; miR-23a-3p.
Affiliations: Department of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, P.R. China; Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P.R. China; Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, P.R. China. Electronic address: ., Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230032, P.R. China; Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, P.R. China. Electronic address: ., Department of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, P.R. China. Electronic address: ., Department of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, P.R. China; Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, P.R. China. Electronic address: ., Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, P.R. China. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Background: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a most common kidney malignancy, with atypical symptoms in the early stage and poor outcome in the late stage. Recently, emerging evidence revealed that some miRNAs play an essential role in the tumorigenesis and progression of RCC. Therefore, the aim of this study is that understand the detailed molecular mechanism of miR-23a-3p in RCC and identify its potential clinical value. Methods: In this study, RT-qPCR, wound scratch assay, cell proliferation assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry assay were performed to detect miR-23a-3p expression and its proliferation, migration and apoptosis in RCC. The bioinformatics analysis, RT-qPCR, western blot and luciferase reporter assay were performed to discern and examine the relationship between miR-23a-3p and its potential targets. Moreover, we analyzed the relationship between miR-23a-3p expression and clinicopathological variables or overall survival (OS) from 118 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded RCC samples. Results: miR-23a-3p is significantly up-regulated in RCC tissue samples, RCC cell lines and the TCGA database. Upregulating miR-23a-3p enhances, while silencing miR-23a-3p suppresses cell viability, proliferation and mobility in ACHN and 786-O cell lines. Besides, overexpression of miR-23a-3p inhibits the cell apoptosis. Then our study further reveals that miR-23a-3p regulates tumorigenesis by targeting Proline-Rich Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 (PNRC2). Also, the cox proportional hazard regression analysis indicates that low expression of miR-23a-3p patients has a remarkable longer OS. Conclusions: Our results reveals that miR-23a-3p may not only serve as a new biomarker for prognosis but also serve as a new therapeutic strategy in the RCC treatment. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
  Fig. 3. Transwell assay . Two panels are not as different as one would expect: ![file] One panel (in the red box) has what appears to be a patch over the upper left corner, comprised of two copies of a segment from elsewhere in the panel. ![file] , 
 #1 You may also wish to examine Figure 4A. *** Enhanced ![file] *** Original ![file] , 
 #1 Missed one (green boxes). *** ![file] , 
 #1 1.Thank you for your work.There are indeed some deficiencies in the article, which may be due to our mistakes in the sorting process. If necessary, we can provide other scratch results to replace them, but this will not affect the results. 2.The patch problem you mentioned does not exist.In this article, we place the original image.We have carefully analyzed the reason. Due to our limited funds, the chamber is recycled and used. In the cleaning process, there may be scratches, leading to the phenomenon you see. , 
 #4 Thank you for your reply. I have taken the liberty of notifying the journal of these concerns. You may wish to discuss your options with them as well. , 
 #4 The response that the patch problem  does not exist does not seem accurate. In the panel outlined in red by Hoya Camphorifolia in the original post, and then shown magnified, there is a rectangular portion that could potentially be explained by two apparently overlapping duplications, as more clearly indicated here. A scratch caused by a cleaning process would not explain why some parts of the image seem to be found twice and others three times in the same picture.![file] , 
 #6 Thank you very much for your criticism and correction.I have submitted a revision application to the Biomedicine pharmacotherapy and corrected the wrong illustrations in Figure 3 and Figure 4. As for the patch problem, I have also provided the original picture to the magazine for review. If you need it, please contact me by private mailuff08quanjing1993@hotmail.comuff09 and help me to solve this problem. Please wait for the result of revision. ,