MicroRNA-491-5p suppresses cervical cancer cell growth by targeting hTERT
Authors: Ying-Ai Shi
Qiang Zhao
Huan-Qiu Liu
Xin-Bai Li
Ying-Xian Zhai
Journal: Oncology Reports (2015)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: MicroRNAs; miR-491-5p; cervical cancer; clinical significance; prognostic value
Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Chaoyang, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China., Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Chaoyang, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China., Department of Anesthesiology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Chaoyang, Changchun, Jilin 130021, P.R. China.

Abstract:  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that have been shown to regulate a variety of biological processes by targeting messenger RNA. MicroRNA-491-5p (miR-491-5p), an important miRNA, has been demonstrated to be involved in the processes of initiation and progression in several tumors. However, the precise biological function of miR-491-5p and its molecular mechanism in cervical cancer cells remain elusive. The present study was carried out to investigate the clinical significance and prognostic value of miR-491-5p expression in cervical cancer, and to evaluate the role of miR-491-5p and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in cervical cancer. The results showed that miR-491-5p expression was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues when compared with the corresponding adjacent normal tissues (P&lt;0.001), and the value was negatively associated with advanced International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, high histological grading and lymph node metastasis (P&lt;0.01). The enforced expression of miR-491-5p in cervical cancer cells significantly inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion, induced cell apoptosis, and suppressed the tumor growth of the mouse model of HeLa cells. In addition, the dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) was identified as a novel target gene of miR-491-5p. Notably, it was found that miR-491-5p regulated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These results suggested that targeting miR-491-5p is a strategy for blocking the development of cervical cancer. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 2C.  Effects of miR-491-5p overexpression on the colony formation of cervical cancer cells were determined . ![file] These appear to be the source of *[left]* Fig 2C from [Xu et al (2016)] . *[right]* Fig 2C from [Li et al (2016)] . ![file] , 
 Fig 5.  miR-491-5p inhibits PI3K AKT signaling pathway in cervical cancer cells. Western blot analysis was performed using specific antibodies against the indicated proteins in HeLa cells following transfection with miR-491 mimics. ![file] The loading control also features in Fig 5 of [Lin et al (2015)] ... ![] ...and *[right]* Fig 4A of [Yang et al (2015)] , though there identified as beta-Actin rather than GAPDH. ![file] , 
 #1 Fig 2C again.  Effects of miR-491-5p overexpression on the colony formation of cervical cancer cells were determined . ![] Another sighting! Fig 3E from [Song et al (2015)] .  Determination of the capacity for colony formation of HeLa cells using a colony formation assay after transfection with miR-133a or miR-Ctrl . ![file] , 
 Retracted [4 October 2021] .  Following the publication of this paper, an interested reader drew to the attention of the Office that the GAPDH control bands shown in Fig. 5 were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published elsewhere, or were already under consideration for publication, prior to its submission to *Oncology Reports*, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors independently contacted the Editorial Office requesting that the paper be retracted. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,