Long noncoding RNA HOXA-AS2 promotes non-small cell lung cancer progression by regulating miR-520a-3p
Authors: Peng Zhang
Guoguang Shao
Yunpeng Liu
Shiyao Zhou
Zhiguang Yang
Xingyu Lin
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: HOXA-AS2; Long non-coding RNA; miR-520a-3p; non-small cell lung cancer; proliferation.
Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China., Department of Anaesthesia, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China., Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China .

Abstract:  Background: The HOXA cluster antisense RNA 2 (HOXA-AS2) has recently been discovered to be involved in carcinogenesis in multiple cancers. However, the role and underlying mechanism of HOXA-AS2 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) yet need to be unraveled. Methods: HOXA-AS2 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was detected using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Furthermore, the effects of HOXA-AS2 on NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed by MTS, flow cytometry, wound healing and transwell invasion assays, respectively. Starbase2.0 predicted and luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to validate the association of HOXA-AS2 and miR-520a-3p in NSCLC cells. Results: Our results revealed that HOXA-AS2 in NSCLC tissues were up-regulated and cell lines, and were associated with poor prognosis and overall survival. Further functional assays demonstrated that HOXA-AS2 knockdown significantly inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis and suppressed migration and invasion. Starbase2.0 predicted that HOXA-AS2 sponge miR-520a-3p at 3'-UTR, which was confirmed using luciferase reporter and RIP assays. miR-520a-3p expression was inversely correlated with HOXA-AS2 expression in NSCLC tissues. In addition, miR-520a-3p inhibitor attenuated the inhibitory effect of HOXD-AS2-depletion on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Moreover, HOXA-AS2 could regulate HOXD8 and MAP3K2 expression, two known targets of miR-520a-3p in NSCLC. Conclusion: These findings implied that HOXA-AS2 promoted NSCLC progression by regulating miR-520a-3p, suggesting that HOXA-AS2 could serve as a therapeutic target for NSCLC. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 *[right]* Fig 2C.  Cell apoptosis was detected in A549 cells transfected with si-HOXA-AS2 or si-NC by flow cytometry assay. *[left]* Fig 4A from [Zhang et al (2018)] .  Cell apoptosis was determined in mGCs transduction with sh-CREB1 or sh-NC lentiviruses by flow cytometry . ![file] Quite different experiments, no authors in common, same Figure. , 
 Please compare - *[above left]* Fig 3B from  Long noncoding RNA 00460 (LINC00460) promotes glioma progression by negatively regulating miRu2010320a ([Feng et al 2019] ) **[retracted]**. - *[above right]* **Fig 3B**. - *[below]* Fig 3a d from  HOXD-AS1 as a ceRNA facilitates liver cancer metastasis by regulating SOX4 ([Wang et al 2017] ). ![file] , 
 Retracted [7 October 2022]  This Retraction follows an Expression of Concern relating to this article previously published by Portland Press. This article is being retracted from Bioscience Reports at the request of the authors following receipt of a notification from a reader, alerting the Editorial Office to duplications that occur across multiple papers with no common authors. Similarities exist between Figure panel 3b and Figure panel 3b of the retracted article u2018Long noncoding RNA 00460 (LINC00460) promotes glioma progression by negatively regulating miR-320au2019 (DOI: 10.1002 jcb.28232), as well as a vertically flipped version of Figure panel 3d of the article u2018STAT3-mediated upregulation of lncRNA HOXD-AS1 as a ceRNA facilitates liver cancer metastasis by regulating SOX4u2019 (DOI: 10.1186 s12943-017-0680-1). The authors wish to retract the article. The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board agree with the Retraction. ,