<p>RPL38 Regulates the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Gastric Cancer via miR-374b-5p/VEGF Signal Pathway</p>
Authors: Hanshu Ji
Xiaoyu Zhang
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: RPL38; VEGF; gastric cancer; miRNA; proliferation and apoptosis.
Affiliations: Second Department of General Surgery, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou 061000, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China., Third Ward of Tumor Surgery Department, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou 061000, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Aim: To explore the role of RPL38 on proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells by regulating miR-374b-5p/VEGF signal pathway. Methods: qRT-PCR was used to measure the expression of RPL38. CCK8 assay, Matrigel invasion assay, and flow cytometry were used to detect the role of RPL38in MKN-45 cells. Western blot was used to measure the protein expression of VEGF, p-ERK, ERK, p-AKT, AKT in cells. Dual-luciferase assay was performed to verify the relationship between miR-374b-5p and RPL38, miR-374b-5p and VEGF. Results: In our research, we found that RPL38 was upregulation in gastric cancer, loss function of RPL38 could inhibit MKN-45 cell proliferation and invasion, accompany with increasing apoptosis. Then, we verified that RPL38 could interact with miR-374b-5p by performed luciferase assay, there was a negative correlation between RPL38 and miR-374b-5p. Furthermore, we observed that VEGF is a potential target of miR-374b-5p, miR-374b-5p negatively regulated the expression of VEGF, and effected ERK/AKT signal pathways. Next, we found that miR-374b-5p inhibitor or overexpression of VEGF could prevent the anti-tumor function of si-RPL38. Conclusion: Knockdown of RPL38 inhibits the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer via miR-374b-5p/VEGF signal pathway. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 As noted on other threads, what appear to be the same tumors (and transformations of them) appear in three papers by unrelated groups of researchers: - Fig 4F from [Liu et al (2019)] . - Fig 7C from [Shi et al (2020)] . - Fig 5C from [Wen et al (2021)] . ![] ![] Here I am interested in the **ruler**, which migrated around the institutions along with the tumors. Note its distinctive markings: on the 10 , a stain at the tip of the leftward stroke of the 1 , and a stain in the middle of the righthand curve of the 0 . On the 20 , a stain along the tops of both digits. The ruler continued its travels and we find it in **Fig 6A of [Ji Shang (2020)] **,  Effects of RPL38 knockdown on the size of MKN-45 xenograft tumors in nude mice. ![file] Fig 7A of [Liu et al (2020)] .  Tumors in nude mice after tumorigenesis . ![file] Figs 3C, 5E, 7F of [Wang et al (2020)] .  Tumor volume and tumor weight in mice . ![file] In Fig 4B of [Zhao et al (2020)] ,  Tumor weight was determined in the isolated tumors from the nude mice , the resolution is lower but the 20 seems to display the same stain. ![file] The same low-resolution caveat applies to Fig 8B of [Xu et al (2020)] ,  Tumor weight was increased after miR-483-3p overexpression . ![file] It would make sense if the xenograft experiments were all the work of a single laboratory, but none of the papers mention outsourcing any research to an outside agency. , 
 Retracted [18 August 2022] ------------------- At the authors request, the Editor and Publisher of *OncoTargets and Therapy* wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised to the authors regarding the integrity of the tumor images shown in Figure 6A. The authors were unable to provide satisfactory data in relation to the tumor images shown in this figure and were unable to support the integrity of the research. The authors requested to retract the article and the Editor agreed with this. 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. ,