MicroRNA‑598 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of non‑small cell lung cancer cells by directly targeting ZEB2
Authors: Xiuchun Zhang
Haitao Yang
Xiangdong Tong
Fusheng Chi
Peng Su
Xiao Feng
Hongqian Jiang
Lin Shen
Zhenyuan Wang
Journal: Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: invasion; microRNA-598; non-small cell lung cancer; proliferation; zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2.
Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, The People's Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning 110016, P.R. China., Department of Thoracic Surgery, Liaoyang City Central Hospital, Liaoning 111000, P.R. China.

Abstract:  An increasing number of studies have observed that microRNAs (miRNAs) are abnormally expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and that their aberrant expression links with the progression and development of NSCLC. Therefore, it is necessary to full elucidate the specific roles of miRNAs in NSCLC, as this may facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets. In the present study, it was observed that miRNA-598 (miR-598) expression was significantly downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Decreased miR-598 was negatively correlated with TNM stage and lymph node metastasis in NSCLC patients. In addition, ectopic expression of miR-598 reduced NSCLC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. The zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) was validated as a direct target of miR-598 in NSCLC cells. ZEB2 was upregulated in NSCLC tissues and the upregulation of ZEB2 was inversely correlated with the miR-598 level. The results revealed that restored ZEB2 expression abrogated the inhibitory effects of miR-598 overexpression in NSCLC cells. In conclusion, the results of the present study revealed that miR-598 may inhibit the progression of NSCLC by directly targeting ZEB2, which suggests that this miRNA may be identified as a potential novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with NSCLC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 3D,  western blot analysis were performed to detect ZEB2 mRNA and protein levels, respectively in H522 and H460 cells transfected with miR-598 mimics or miR-NC ; 4B,  Western blot analysis of ZEB2 protein expression in pairs of NSCLC tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues ; 5A,  At 72 h post transfection, the ZEB2 protein expression was determined by western blot analysis. ![file] Western Blots of this stylised appearance are frequent in the products of the [ Direct target papermill] . e.g. WBs from [Wang et al (2019)] **[retracted]**; ![] Figs 3F, 4A, 5A from [Wang et al (2019b)] ; ![] Figs 2E F, 5A, 6A from [Xia et al (2020)] : ![] , 
 *[left]* Fig 5B from  MicroRNAu2011509 targets PAX6 to inhibit cell proliferation and invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma ([Zhang et al 2018] ). *[upper right]* **Fig 2C**. *[lower right]* Fig 7E from  MicroRNA-485 inhibits malignant biological behaviour of glioblastoma cells by directly targeting PAK4 ([Mao et al 2017] ). ![file] , 
 *[left]* Fig 5C from  MicroRNA-28 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in gastric cancer via the PTEN PI3K AKT signalling pathway ([Li et al 2017] ). *[middle]* Fig 2C from  MicroRNAu2011655 suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma by directly targeting metadherin and regulating the PTEN AKT pathway ([Wang et al 2018] ). *[right]* **Fig 5C**. ![file] H t ImageTwin. , 
 A panel has been triplicated across three papers. - Fig 5D from  MicroRNAu2011874 prohibits the proliferation and invasion of retinoblastoma cells by directly targeting metadherin ([Zhang et al 2018a] ). - **Fig 2C**. - Fig 5C from  MicroRNA-655 attenuates the malignant biological behaviours of retinoblastoma cells by directly targeting PAX6 and suppressing the ERK and p38u00efu00bfu00bdMAPK signalling pathways ([Zhang et al 2018] ). ![file] , 
 Retracted [20 June 2022] . Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editorsu2019 attention by a concerned reader that the western blotting data shown in Figs. 3D, 4B and 5A, and several of the panels shown for the cell invasion assays in Figs. 2C and 5C, 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 *Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine*, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,