Silencing circular RNA circZNF609 restrains growth, migration and invasion by up-regulating microRNA-186-5p in prostate cancer
Authors: Zijian Zhang
Weiming Zhao
Wanpeng Liu
Chengjun Jin
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Prostate cancer; circZNF609; growth; invasion; miR-186-5p
Affiliations: a Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University , Harbin , China., b Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University , Harbin , China.

Abstract:  Background: Prostate cancer (PC) fearfully impacts men's health. We explored the efficacy and mechanism of circular RNA circZNF609 (circZNF609) on colony formation, viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion and in PC cells. Methods: Colony formation, CCK-8, flow cytometry, migration and invasion assay were respectively used to detect the functions of circZNF609 and microRNA (miR)-186-5p on cell colony ability, viability, apoptosis, migration and invasion. circZNF609 and miR-186-5p expression were changed by cell transfection and tested by RT-qPCR. Moreover, Cleaved-Caspase-3, Cleaved-Caspase-9, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), Vimentin and relate-proteins of cell pathways were examined through Western blot. Results: circZNF609 was highly expressed at PC tissues. circZNF609 declined cell colony ability, viability, migration and invasion and caused apoptosis. Furthermore, circZNF609 negatively regulated miR-186-5p, miR-186-5p inhibitor could reverse impacts of circZNF609. Finally, circZNF609 restrained the YAP1 and AMPK pathways by up-regulating miR-186-5p. Conclusion: Silencing circZNF609 restrained growth, migration and invasion of PC cells by up-regulating miR-186-5p via YAP1 and AMPK pathways. Highlights circZNF609 is highly expressed in PC tissues; circZNF609 restrains cell growth, migration and invasion; circZNF609 exerts its function by up-regulating miR-186-5p; circZNF609 exerts its function by YAP1 and AMPK signaling pathways. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Expression of Concern, [3 February 2022] . -------------------- We, the Publisher and Editor of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, are issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article: After publication of this article, questions about the scientific integrity of the article content were brought to the Publisher and Editoru2019s attention. We reached out to the authors requesting that they supply information that would confirm the articleu2019s integrity. The authors provided several files in response to our queries, but they were unable to provide the original data in a format which satisfies our requirements to confirm the authenticity of some types of data. In particular, they were unable to provide full western blots, where the molecular weight markers are indicated. Therefore, as we continue to work through the issues raised, we advise readers to interpret the information presented in the article with due caution. The authors have been notified about this Expression of Concern. , 
 Via http: www.most.gov.cn zxgz kycxjs kycxgzdt 202203 t20220318_179892.html u3000u30002. The paper  Silencing circular RNA circZNF609 restrains growth, migration and invasion by up-regulating microRNA-186-5p in prostate cancer with Liu Wanpeng as the corresponding author and Jin Chengjun as the first author of the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University. After investigation, it is found that the paper has the behavior of writing and investing, buying and selling papers. Jin Chengjun was dealt with as follows: the scientific research integrity exhortation talk, the cancellation of the application for scientific and technological plans (special projects, funds, etc.) projects and awards for 3 years, the cancellation of the qualification for promotion of postgraduate tutors for 3 years, and the cancellation of the qualification for promotion of professional titles for 2 years; Liu Wanpeng was dealt with as follows: The scientific research integrity admonition talk, the cancellation of the application for scientific and technological plans (special projects, funds, etc.) projects and awards for 5 years, the cancellation of the qualification for promotion of postgraduate tutors for 4 years, and the cancellation of the qualification for promotion of professional titles for 3 years. ,