LncRNA BCRT1 promotes breast cancer progression by targeting miR-1303/PTBP3 axis
Authors: Qifeng Yang
Ning Zhang
Dan Luo
Xiaoyan Li
Yiran Liang
Fangzhou Ye
Tingting Ma
Wenjing Zhao
Bing Chen
Yajie Wang
Dianwen Han
Xiaojin Song
Lijuan Wang
Ying Liu
Hanwen Zhang
Yaming Li
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Breast cancer; LncRNA BCRT1; PTBP3; Progression; miR-1303.
Affiliations: Department of Breast Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China., Pathology Tissue Bank, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China., Department of Breast Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China. ., Pathology Tissue Bank, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China. .

Abstract:  Background: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in tumor progression and are aberrantly expressed in various cancers. However, the functional roles of lncRNAs in breast cancer remain largely unknown. Methods: Based on public databases and integrating bioinformatics analyses, the overexpression of lncRNA BCRT1 in breast cancer tissues was detected and further validated in a cohort of breast cancer tissues. The effects of lncRNA BCRT1 on proliferation, migration, invasion and macrophage polarization were determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) were carried out to reveal the interaction between lncRNA BCRT1, miR-1303, and PTBP3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and RT-PCR were used to evaluate the regulatory effect of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) on lncRNA BCRT1. Results: LncRNA BCRT1 was significantly upregulated in breast cancer tissues, which was correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. LncRNA BCRT1 knockdown remarkably suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, lncRNA BCRT1 could competitively bind with miR-1303 to prevent the degradation of its target gene PTBP3, which acts as a tumor-promoter in breast cancer. LncRNA BCRT1 overexpression could promote M2 polarization of macrophages, mediated by exosomes, which further accelerated breast cancer progression. Furthermore, lncRNA BCRT1 was upregulated in response to hypoxia, which was attributed to the binding of HIF-1α to HREs in the lncRNA BCRT1 promoter. Conclusions: Collectively, these results reveal a novel HIF-1α/lncRNA BCRT1/miR-1303/PTBP3 pathway for breast cancer progression and suggest that lncRNA BCRT1 might be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for breast cancer. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 There is a conflict between figure 1f and 1g. fig. 1f shows BCRT1mainly localize in the cytosol, but fig. 1g in the nuclei ![file] ![file] , 
 Fig. 3 a and b. there s an overlap between two migration assays ![file] , 
 Retracted [17 June 2022] . ---------------------------- The Editor-in-Chief has retracted this article. After publication, the authors alerted the journal that there were errors in Figs. 3b, 4j, S2g and S2h, resulting in overlap between images representing different treatment groups. The Editor-in-Chief therefore no longer has confidence in the presented data. Yiran Liang, Xiaojin Song, Yaming Li, Bing Chen, Wenjing Zhao, Lijuan Wang, Hanwen Zhang, Ying Liu, Dianwen Han, Ning Zhang, Yajie Wang, Fangzhou Ye, Dan Luo, Xiaoyan Li and Qifeng Yang agree to this retraction. Tingting Ma has not responded to any correspondence from the editor or publisher about this retraction. ,