Functional analyses of microRNA-326 in breast cancer development
Authors: Qian Li
Rongbo Ding
Haipeng Zhang
Lishengnan Shen
Ye Du
Wei Zhang
Simin Li
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Breast cancer; SOX12; invasion; miR-326; proliferation.
Affiliations: Department of Breast Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin, P.R. China., Department of Cosmetology Plastic Surgery the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin, P.R. China., Department of Gynecology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, Jilin, P.R. China .

Abstract:  MicroRNA-326 (miR-326) was reported to be dysregulated and involved in the progression of multiple cancers. However, the clinical significance, biological role and underlying mechanism of miR-326 in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer are still unclear. In the present study, we showed that miR-326 was down-regulated in human breast cancer tissues and cell lines. Our results also revealed that miR-326 overexpression significantly suppressed breast cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest at G1/G0 phase. Furthermore, Sex determining region Y-box (SOX) protein 12 (SOX12), a known oncogene, was identified as a direct target of miR-326 by luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, miR-326 expression was inversely correlated with SOX12 mRNA expression levels in human breast cancer specimens. Overexpression of SOX12 partially rescued the inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, migration and invasion in breast cancer cells caused by miR-326 overexpression. These findings suggested that miR-326 might play a suppressive role in breast cancer, at least in part, by targeting SOX12, rendering miR-326 a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 4D.  **SOX12** expression on ... protein levels was examined in MCF-7 cells transfected with miR-326 mimics or miR-NC . ![file] *[left]* Fig 3D from [Zhu et al (2017)] .  The **PIK3R3** ... protein expression levels were determined in U87 cells transfected with miR-365 mimic or miR-NC by ... western blotting . *[right]* Fig 5B from [Zhu et al (2016)] .  **Runx22** expression on ... protein level were measured in U87 cells transfected with si-Runx2 or si-NC by ... western blot . ![file] , 
 Fig 5B.  SOX12 expression on ... protein levels was measured in MCF-7 cells after transfection with miR-326 mimics with (or without) the SOX12-overexpression vector (pCDNA3.1-SOX12) or miR-NC . ![file] For comparison, *[left]* Fig 5B from [Xu et al (2018)] .  Western blot analysis of CYR61 protein levels in U2OS and MG63 cells transfected with an miR-365 mimic with or without a pCDNA3.1-CYR61. *[right]* Fig 5A from [Lin et al (2017)] .  Western blot and analysis of AKT3 protein expression in TPC-1 and SW1736 cells expressing miR-217 or miR-217 plus AKT3 overexpression plasmid . ![file] , 
 Retracted [29 July 2021] . ---------------------------------------------- This article is being retracted from *Bioscience Reports* at the request of the authors following receipt of a notification from a reader, alerting the authors and Editorial Office to duplications in the Western blots of Figure 4D and 5B which have been published in several other publications by different authors. The authors have been unable to replicate the results and wish to retract the article. The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board agree with the Retraction. ,