MiRNA-27a promotes the proliferation and invasion of human gastric cancer MGC803 cells by targeting via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Ni Guo
Yu-Qian Liao
Fang Wu
Jun Li
Xiao-Hui Wang
Journal: American journal of cancer research (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: MGC803 cells; MicroRNA-27a; SFRP1; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; gastric cancer
Affiliations: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Nanchang 330006, P. R. China., Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital Nanchang 330029, P. R. China., Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangxi Cancer Hospital Nanchang 330029, P. R. China.

Abstract:  This study aims to elucidate the effects of microRNA-27a (miR-27a) on the proliferation and invasion of gastric cancer (GC) cells by targeting SFRP1 via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. GC and normal adjacent tissues were collected from 273 GC patients. Human gastric cancer cell line (MGC803) and normal human gastric mucosal cell line (GES-1) were cultured. The miR-27a mRNA expression was analyzed using Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) test was used to detect miR-27a and SFRP1 protein expressions. After transfection, cells were divided into five groups: the negative control (NC) group, the miR-27a inhibitor group, the miR-27a mimics group, the miR-27a inhibitor + SFRP1 siRNA group and the miR-27a mimics + SFRP1 overexpression group. Western blotting was conducted to test SFRP1 and Wnt/β-catenin protein expression. Analysis for the target gene of miR-27a was performed using Luciferase assay. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were determined by CCK8 and Transwell assay. The dual-luciferase reporter assay system was applied to analyze the effects of miR-27a on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In GC tissue and cell line, miR-27a protein and mRNA expressions were up-regulated, and SFRP1 protein and mRNA expressions were down-regulated. Luciferase assay indicated that miR-27a might target SFRP1 and regulate its expressions. When miR-27a was down-regulated, SFRP1 was up-regulated, and β-catenin, Wnt, p-β-catenin, and p-Wnt were significantly down-regulated. Compared with the NC group, the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells were remarkably increased in the miR-27a group, but these were declined in the miR-27a mimics + SFRP1 overexpression group. The proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells were elevated in the miR-27a inhibitor + SFRP1 siRNA group compared with the miR-27a inhibitor group. These results showed that miR-27a was highly expressed in GC tissues and cells, and it might promote cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting SFRP1 via the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
  Figure 1. Transfection efficiency among the five groups . ![file] , 
  Figure 7. Comparisons of the migration and invasion abilities of GC cells among the five groups.  ![file] Compare with Figure 7C from [Kong et al (2017)] :  Effect of miR-27a on the migration and invasion of BC cells among the six groups. ... C. effect of miR-27a on the invasion of BC cells among the six groups . ![file] The red-boxed areas are identical between the two papers (no authors in common), but the orange-boxed areas differ by the addition removal of a cell clump, leading to the melancholy suspicion that one or other image is not entirely natural. , 
 More overlaps. Between Fig 7, ![file] Fig 5A,B from [Lu et al (2018)] , ![file] Figure 5A,B from [Wu et al (2017)] . ![file] , 
 Fig 7 again, ![file] where the orange rectangle marks a comparison with Fig 4C from [Che et al (2017)] . ![file] ,