<p>lncRNA MAFG-AS1 Contributes to Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma Progression via Regulating miR143/LASP1</p>
Authors: Yunhui Qu
Jinbo Liu
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: ESCC; LASP1; MAFG-AS1; lncRNA; miR143.
Affiliations: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China., Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Background: Increasing investigations indicate that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is responsible for diverse biological functions during the progression of cancer. However, its functions and underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated the MAFG-AS1- expression profile in esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients and explored its biological function and potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: qRT-PCR and the GEPIA data base were used to evaluate expression levels of MAFG-AS1 in ESCC tissue and cells. WST1-proliferation, -migration, and -invasion assays were performed to define the role of MAFG-AS1 in ESCC. Potential molecular mechanisms of MAFG-AS1 were investigated with online bioinformatic analysis, qRT-PCR, and rescue assays. Results: MAFG-AS1 was upregulated in 45 ESCC-tissue samples and cell lines compared to that of adjacent nontumor tissue and normal esophageal cells. Higher MAFG-AS1 expressionindicated poor survival. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments suggested that MAFG-AS1 promoted ESCC-cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Molecular mechanism analysis and rescue assay showed that miR143 inhibitors partly abolished the suppression of MAFG-AS1 knockdown on EC109-cells proliferation. Moreover, we found that LASP1 specifically targeted miR143. Collectively, these data indicated that MAFG-AS1 served as a ceRNA to elevate LASP1 levels by sponging miR143, and played an oncogenic role in ESCC. Conclusion: Our research findings demonstrate that MAFG-AS1 is a key regulator through a novel MAFG-AS1-miR143-LASP1 axis in ESCC development and progression, which may offer a potential therapeutic target for ESCC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 3 A,C: a micrograph has been duplicated and presented as something else. FIgure 3G, 4C: a micrograph has been duplicated, manipulated and presented as something else. The reference list contains 36 references, and 32 36 (89%) are citing Chinese scientists! That is what I call an extreme skewed distribution! ![file] , 
 December 2020 The Editor and Publisher of OncoTargets and Therapy wish to retract the published article. The journal was notified of potential image duplication in: u25cf Figure 3A u2013 panel EC109 si-MAFG-AS1#2 and Figure 3C u2013 panel EC109 si-NC, which appear to be duplicates of each other. u25cf Figure 3C u2013 panel EC1 si-MAFG-AS1#2 and Figure 3G u2013 panel EC1 GV-NC, which appear to be duplicates of each other. The authors did not provide the necessary raw data for their study and the editor determined the findings of the study were no longer valid and requested for the paper to be retracted. Our decision-making was informed by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retraction. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u201cRetractedu201d. ,