MicroRNA-124 inhibits proliferation and metastasis of esophageal cancer via negatively regulating NRP1
Authors: Y Wang
R-K Zang
Y-C Liang
S-L Hu
L-K Hu
Y Zhang
J-B Ma
W Dong
W Zhang
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2018)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: MicroRNA-124; esophageal cancer; tumor suppressor; qRT-PCR; cell proliferation
Affiliations: Department of Oncology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: MicroRNAs are a kind of endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which exert a significant role in pathological processes. Previous studies have reported that microRNA-124 is a tumor suppressor. The specific effect of microRNA-124 on esophageal cancer, however, has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to explore the role of microRNA-124 in esophageal cancer and its underlying mechanism. Patients and methods: MicroRNA-124 expressions in 75 esophageal cancer tissues, paracancerous tissues, and esophageal cancer cell lines were detected by qRT-PCR (quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction). The relationship between microRNA-124 expression, clinical progression, pathological indicators, and prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer was analyzed. For in vitro experiments, we performed CCK-8 (cell counting kit-8), colony formation and transwell assay to detect cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities after microRNA-124 overexpression in TE-1 and EC-109 cells, respectively. Western blot was utilized to explore the regulatory role of microRNA-124 in esophageal cancer cells. Results: MicroRNA-124 was downregulated in esophageal cancer tissues than that of paracancerous tissues. Patients with esophageal cancer who had lower expression level of microRNA-124 presented higher tumor stage and metastasis incidence, as well as lower survival rate. In vitro studies demonstrated a decreased cell proliferation and migration abilities after microRNA-124 overexpression. Western blot results showed upregulated PI3K and AKT, and downregulated PTEN in esophageal cancer cells after overexpression of microRNA-124. Furthermore, microRNA-124 was confirmed to negatively regulate NRP1, so as to participate in the development of esophageal cancer. Conclusions: MicroRNA-124 is downregulated in esophageal cancer tissues, which is remarkably correlated to the development, pathological grade, and poor prognosis of esophageal cancer. Overexpressed microRNA-124 is capable of inhibiting the malignant progression of esophageal cancer via negatively regulating NRP1. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Could the authors please review figures 5 and 6? Most of the images and data appear repeated and the captions donu2019t appear to reference all of the data presented. It is difficult to believe that this version of the manuscript could have been peer reviewed (or even read). Update: I will note that the email address for the corresponding author is a non-institutional address that bears no resemblance to the authoru2019s name. Others have recently identified this as a possible sign of a paper generated by a papermill, although I have no evidence that this is the case here. *** Figure 5 ![file] *** Figure 6 ![file] , 
 In Figure 6 I can see the relationship between the images and the caption. The captions of Figure 5 are calling out for completely different images rather than the ones provided. , 
 *[right]* Fig 1D from [Zang et al (2018)] .  Kaplan-Meier survival curves of patients with esophageal cancer based on microRNA-124 expression. Patients in the high expression group had worse prognosis than those in the low expression group. *[left]* Fig 1D from [Ma et al (2019)] .  Survival curves of microRNA-487a expression in EC patients. ![file] My goal here is to call attention to the unexpected similarities, especially in the two lower curves. , 
  This investigation was approved by the Hospital Ethics Committee. This is less specific than it might seem, as the authors are spread across two institutions, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University. , 
 Fig 5C,D. ![file] For comparison: Figs 2E,F from *[left]* [Wu et al (2018)] and *[right]*[ Wang et al (2018)] . ![file] , 
 Retracted [March 2021] . ----------------------------------------------- This paper presents several inaccuracies and mistakes. Therefore, the article u201cMicroRNA-124 inhibits proliferation and metastasis of esophageal cancer via negatively regulating NRP1, by R.-K. Zang, J.-B. Ma, Y.-C. Liang, Y. Wang, S.-L. Hu, Y. Zhang, W. Dong, W. Zhang, L.-K. Hu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018; 22 (14): 4532-4541u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201807_15508u2013PMID: 30058693u201d has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. ,