Retracted: microRNA‐374 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of mouse melanoma cells by inactivating the Wnt signalling pathway through its effect on tyrosinase
Authors: Zhi-Jun Liu
Yan-Yan Xu
Zhao Han
Zhi-Feng Li
Xiao-Jing Li
Journal: Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: TYR gene; Wnt signalling pathway; apoptosis; melanoma; microRNA-374
Affiliations: Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei Engineering University, Handan, P. R. China.

Abstract:  Melanoma is one of the most malignant skin tumours with constantly increasing incidence worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-374 (miR-374) is a novel biomarker for cancer therapy. Therefore, this study explores whether miR-374 targeting tyrosinase (TYR) affects melanoma and its underlying mechanism. We constructed subcutaneous melanoma models to carry out the following experiments. The cells were transfected with a series of miR-374 mimics, miR-374 inhibitors or siRNA against TYR. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used for the verification of the targeting relationship between miR-374 and TYR. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were conducted to determine the expression of miR-374, TYR, β-catenin, B-cell leukaemia 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), Leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) and CyclinD1. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 assay, scratch test, transwell assay and flow cytometry respectively. TYR was proved as a putative target of miR-374 as the evidenced by the result. It was observed that up-regulated miR-374 or down-regulated TYR increased expression of Bax and decreased expressions of TYR, β-catenin, LRP6, Bcl-2, CyclinD1 and LGR5, along with diminished cell proliferation, migration, invasion and enhanced apoptosis. Meanwhile, cells with miR-374 inhibitors showed an opposite trend. These findings indicated that up-regulated miR-374 could inhibit the expression of TYR to suppress cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promote cell apoptosis in melanoma cells by inhibiting the Wnt signalling pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Retracted, [14 May 2021] .  The above article from Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, published online on 17 June 2019 on Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) in Volume 23, pp. 4991u20105005, has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editoru2010inu2010Chief and John Wiley Sons Ltd. The journal was informed by the authors of improper images used in Figure 1 and Figure 2, where tumour tissue images have mistakenly been included instead of paracancerous tissue. More followu2010up experiments are needed to confirm the validity of the results. One also notes the curiously wobbly, overhanging, hand-drawn quality of the flow-cytometry results in Fig 9. ![file] Not to forget the Western Blots, which are reminiscent of rows of sausages. ![file] , 
 In the interests of dead-horse-flogging, here is Fig 8A... ![file] ... for comparison with Fig 10A C of  Up-regulation of miRNA-148a inhibits proliferation, invasion, and migration while promoting apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by down-regulating RRS1 ([Zhang et al 2019] ) **[retracted]**. ![] ,