miR-338-3p suppresses neuroblastoma proliferation, invasion and migration through targeting PREX2a
Authors: Xiwei Hao
Min Pan
Hongting Lu
Qian Dong
Xin Chen
Lulu Han
Journal: FEBS Letters (2013)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: AKT; Metastasis; Microarray; Neuroblastoma; PREX2a
Affiliations: Department of Pediatric Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  MicroRNAs (miRNA) can regulate cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. Here, we show that miR-338-3p is down-regulated in metastatic tumor tissues compared to primary tumors, and that that miR-338-3p can inhibit cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest, as well as restrain cell migration and invasion. PREX2a is confirmed as a direct target of miR-338-3p. Knockdown of PREX2a inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion through the PTEN/Akt pathway. miR-338-3p-dependent inhibition of proliferation and invasion can be rescued by PREXa. Overall, this study demonstrates that miR-338-3p affects the PTEN/Akt pathway by down-regulating PREX2a. This newly identified function of miR-338-3p provides novel insights into neuroblastoma and may foster therapeutic applications. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Parts of the TBK1 and P65 have unexpected similarity. ![file] , 
 My understanding is that the bands of TBK1 or p65 are in the same membranes. The bands on the left are completely different, and the bands on the right are not exactly the same, just a little similar. , 
 The whole bands of TBK1and p65 maybe on the two different menbranes. I think the bands are obviously different in outline and thickness when comparing TBK1 and p65 bands, though each band has similar look. The first band in the red box is twisted, and it is likely that TBK1 and p65 are on the same lane in the same electrophoresis , causing the distortion of all protein in this lane. , 
 I don t think there is any problem. These two bands are on the same membrane obviously. You should look at the first lane, they are totally different. And the background of the two bands are very different. Its a common phenomenon in western blot. , 
 #3 If it is distorted by other reasons, it should be effect on all proteins in this lane, but obviously, it is not the case. In addition, even if there are similar lanes in the result, it should be more possible for p-p65 and p65, or p-TBK1 and TBK1. , 
 It is possible they use the same membrane to test p-p65 and p-TBK1, and use another membrane to test total p65 and TBK1. , 
 Thanks for your concern. After examining the original data for TBK1 and p65 panels in Figure 3a, weu2019re quite certain that the two panels are not identical or duplicated, although some of the bands share similar shape, space and size. The original white light images and the exposure images of both blots (TBK1 and p65) are shown below. Please be noted that there were 12 lanes in the original images instead of the 10 lanes in the published Figure 3a. The first and the last lanes were technical repeat of the first and the last sample, respectively. Usually we do this for preventing the bands near the edges of the gel from distorting during electrophoresis. **White light image of TBK1 blot (numbered as #4)uff1a** ![file] **Exposure image of TBK1 blotuff1a** ![file] **White light image of p65 blot (numbered as #5)uff1a** ![file] **Exposure image of p65 blotuff1a** ![file] These two blots were from the same membrane of one gel electrophoresis. After blotting, the membrane was cut in half based on the MW of TBK1 (84KD) and p65 (65KD), between the 100KD and the 70KD markers. The upper blot was numbered #4 and the lower blot #5, as shown below. ![file] Then the two blots were incubated with different Ab, anti-TBK1 for #4 blot and anti-p65 for #5 blot, and then subjected to the subsequent procedures of Western blot analysis. **Therefore, the two panels of TBK1 and p65 were from two different parts of the same membrane, for detection of different signals, and from different exposures.** ,