MicroRNA-590-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer conferring inhibitory effects on cell migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by downregulating the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Jin Gao
Shao-Rong Yu
Sai-Nan Hu
Li-Li Zhang
Jian-Wei Lu
Yuan Yuan
Ji-Feng Feng
Journal: Journal of Cellular Physiology (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: PITX2; Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway; breast cancer; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; invasion
Affiliations: Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.

Abstract:  Breast cancer remains one of the foremost primary causes of female morbidity and mortality worldwide. During the current study, the effect of miR-590-5p and paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2) on proliferation, invasion, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of human breast cancer via the Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway was investigated. Breast cancer-related genes and related signaling pathways were obtained from KEGG database. The PITX2 regulatory microRNA was predicted. To define the contributory role by which miR-590-5p influences the progression of breast cancer, the interaction between miR-590-5p and PITX2 was explored; the proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities as well as the tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice were detected following the overexpression or silencing of miR-590-5p. PITX2 was determined to share a correlation with breast cancer and miR-590-5p was selected for further analysis. PITX2, Wnt-1, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin all displayed higher levels, while miR-590-5p and E-cadherin expression were lower among breast cancer tissues than in the adjacent normal tissue. After overexpression of miR-590-5p or si-PITX2, the expression of E-cadherin was markedly increased, decreases in the expression of Wnt-1, β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin, as well as inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, migration, metastasis, and EMT were observed. This study provides evidence suggesting that the transfection of overexpressed miR-590-5p can act to alleviate the effects of breast cancer demonstrating an ability to inhibit the processes of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion as well as EMT by suppressing the expression of PITX2 and activation of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The Western blots and other figures in this paper have an interesting layout that appears to be shared with many other papers, as discussed in a January 2020 post on Leonid Schneider s blog: https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing In almost all papers, Western blot panels within the same figure, and across figures and papers, appear to share the same background, while the bands are regularly spaced, all have similar rounded edges without the usual smudges and specks, and with some bands showing a recognizable  jumping sardine shape. Also in almost all papers, bar graphs show a characteristic layout with bars in solid shades of grey, and the left-most bar in black, as well as double-edged error bars. Many papers have  cell viability and  apoptotic cells graphs. To illustrate the recognizable layout of the graphs in this paper, here is Figure 1. ![file] , 
 March 17, 2020 Expression of Concern, at https: www.tandfonline.com doi full 10.1080 21691401.2020.1741884 . *After publication of this article, questions about the scientific integrity of the article content were brought to the Publisher and Editoru2019s attention. We have reached out to the authors requesting that they supply information that would confirm the articleu2019s integrity, but the authors have not responded to our queries within the requested timeframe. Therefore, as we continue to work through the issues raised, we advise readers to interpret the information presented in the article with due caution.* , 
 Retracted [21 October 2020] . ------------------------------------------------ We, the authors, Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Liushun Jia, Zhen Zhu, Hongbo Li Yaofeng Li (2019) Shikonin inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion and promotes apoptosis in NCI-N87 cells via inhibition of PI3K AKT signal pathway. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47(1), 2662u20132669, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1632870 Since publication, the authors noticed that when they repeated the reported experiments as part of their further research, some of the data could not be replicated. As this directly impacts the validity of the reported results and conclusions the authors alerted the issue to the Editor and Publisher and all have agreed to retract the article to ensure the integrity of the scholarly record. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u2018Retractedu2019. , 
 [Source: Jining First People s Hospital Release time: 2021-12-17] : In order to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity, severely punish violations, and create a good environment for scientific and technological innovation, the relevant paper issues recently investigated and dealt with by this unit are hereby notified as follows. 22. Li Yaofeng of our hospital is the corresponding author, Zhu Zhen is the co-first author, Jia Liushun of Jining City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the first author, and Li Hongbo of Sishui County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine is the co-first author of the paper  Shikonin inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion and promotes apoptosis in NCI-N87 cells via inhibition of PI3K AKT signal pathway , after investigation, it is an academic misconduct of tampering with data and fabricating the research process. Our hospital will deal with the relevant responsible persons as follows: Li Yaofeng (corresponding author): cancel the application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans within 5 years; cancel the 5-year nomination or recommender, nominated or recommender, Review experts and other qualifications; cancel their membership or membership in academic institutions such as societies, associations, etc.; postpone promotion to a higher-level professional and technical position for one year; order to contact the magazine as soon as possible to withdraw the manuscript; warning from the party. Zhu Zhen (tied for the first author): The research integrity admonition talk; the hospital circulates criticism. Jining Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has dealt with Jia Liushun (the first author) as follows: cancel the application qualification for scientific research projects within 3 years; exhort and talk about scientific research integrity; fill in the letter of commitment; the paper is invalid and shall not be used for any benefit behavior. Li Hongbo (co-first author) was dealt with by Sishui County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine as follows: Criticism of scientific research integrity education. ,