Upregulation of long noncoding RNA TUG1 contributes to the development of laryngocarcinoma by targeting miR-145-5p/ROCK1 axis
Authors: Pingping Wu
Fengxian Liu
Shenfa Zhuang
Journal: Journal of cellular biochemistry (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: ROCK1; RhoA/ROCK/MMPs pathway; laryngocarcinoma; miR-145-5p; taurine upregulated gene 1.
Affiliations: Department of Otolaryngology, Jining First People's Hospital of Shandong Province, Jining, Shandong, China., Department of Otolaryngology, The Third People's Hospital of Qingdao, Qingdao, Shandong, China.

Abstract:  Laryngocarcinoma is the most common head and neck cancer and has a high incidence and mortality, causing about 83 000 deaths per year worldwide. Our research aimed to investigate the possible role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) taurine upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) in laryngocarcinoma development. The messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of TUG1 in tumor tissues and control (plasma) samples of laryngocarcinoma patients as well as in laryngocarcinoma cells were detected. The influences of TUG1 suppression on cell biological processes (viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion) and cytoskeleton rearrangement in laryngocarcinoma cells were tested. Moreover, we investigated the regulatory interaction between TUG1 and miR-145-5p, and identified the target gene of miR-145-5p. The association between TUG1 and the protein expressions of RhoA/rho associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK)/matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) pathway-associated factors were detected. TUG1 was found to be highly expressed in tumor tissues and plasma samples of laryngocarcinoma patients as well as in laryngocarcinoma cells. Suppression of TUG1 decreased laryngocarcinoma cell viability, increased apoptosis, and suppression migration, invasion, and cytoskeleton rearrangement. Moreover, TUG1 negatively regulated miR-145-5p. TUG1 regulated tumor growth (viability and apoptosis) and metastasis through miR-145-5p. Furthermore, ROCK1 was targeted by miR-145-5p, and miR-145-5p/ROCK1 partner was involved in the process of tumor growth and metastasis. Finally, we found that TUG1 functioned on laryngocarcinoma by activating RhoA/ROCK/MMPs pathway. Our study reveals that lncRNA TUG1 is upregulated in laryngocarcinoma and may be involved in the process of laryngocarcinoma through miR-145-5p downregulation and activating the RhoA/ROCK/MMPs signals. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The micrographs presented in Figure 1, 3 and 5 are a mixture of everything. A complete falsification. ![file] , 
 #1 It may also be of interest to compare the figures of this paper *[below]* with those of [Zhang et al. (2019)] *[above]*: ![file] I am not aiming for a comprehensive comparison, using all the relevant figures from both papers, or to duplicate #1 by showing all similarities **within** either paper. Just to show that figures in both papers appear to be collaged from a single set of motifs, which is an odd phenomenon, given the absence of overlap between the author lists. , 
 The same visual motifs also appear in [Kong et al (2019)] , here at upper left. ![] , 
 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 , 
 Retracted [4 June 2021] . ------------------------------------------ The above article, published online on 27 March 2019 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between the the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Christian Behl, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. Several flaws and inconsistencies between results presented and experimental methods described were found, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. The authors collaborated in the investigation initially, but were not available for a final confirmation of the retraction. , 
 An investigation by Jining First People s Hospital (the authors institution), released 29 December 2021: https: www.jnrmyy.com keyan kxyj gonggao 2021 1229 6607.html -------------------------- 4. The paper  Upregulation of long noncoding RNA TUG1 contributes to the development of laryngocarcinoma by targeting miRu2010 145u20105p ROCK1 axisu201d, 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: Wu Pingping (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 nomination or recommender, nominee or recommender for 5 years , evaluation experts and other qualifications; cancel the membership or membership of academic institutions such as societies, associations, etc.; postpone the appointment of a higher-level professional and technical position for 1 year; order to contact the magazine as soon as possible to withdraw the manuscript; administrative warning. Zhuang Shenfa (first author): Cancellation of application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans, etc. within 5 years; Membership or membership of academic institutions such as societies and associations that have been obtained; postponement of employment for one year of higher-level professional and technical positions; warnings from the party. The Third People s Hospital of Qingdao City handled Liu Fengxian (tied as the first author) as follows: admonishing and speaking on scientific research integrity; reporting criticism within a certain range; suspending current research projects and scientific research activities, and rectifying within a time limit; withdrawing the scientific research obtained for the papers involved Rewards (hospitals); Cancellation of qualifications for applying for or applying for scientific and technological plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), scientific and technological awards, titles of scientific and technological talents, and promotion of professional and technical positions within 5 years; Cancellation of academic groups such as societies, associations, research societies, and academic and degree committees Membership or membership of other academic work institutions; disqualification as a nominee or recommender, nominee or recommender, review expert, etc. within 5 years. ,