Columbamine-Mediated PTEN/AKT Signal Pathway Regulates the Progression of Glioma
Authors: Yang Liu
Ming Yang
Hong-Sheng Jiang
Yan-Zhou Wang
Hai-Tao Niu
Yong Tian
Journal: Cancer Management and Research (2021)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: AKT; PTEN; columbamine; glioma; proliferation.
Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Purpose: At present, comprehensive therapy has been widely used in the treatment of glioma, but the curative effect is not good, and the survival rate of patients is low. Therefore, it is crucial to explore further the regulatory mechanism of the occurrence and development of glioma and find potential therapeutic targets. We aimed to investigate the columbamine (a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid derived from the rhizome of Chinese herbal medicine Rhizoma Coptidis) on glioma progression. Methods: MTT, clone formation assay, wound healing assay, and transwell assay were performed to detect the cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion ability. Flow cytometry, TUNEL, and Western blot were used to identify the apoptosis level in glioma cells. PTEN inhibitor (SF1670) and AKT activator (SC79) were used to explore the mechanism of columbamine on glioma cell progression. Results: Columbamine inhibits proliferation, migration, invasion, and induces apoptosis in glioma cell lines (SHG44 and U251). Columbamine prevents phosphorylation of AKT and promotes the expression of PTEN. Blocking PTEN level or inducing phosphorylation of AKT attenuates columbamine function on SHG44 cells proliferation, metastasis, and apoptosis. Conclusion: In this research, we find that columbamine could inhibit proliferation and metastasis of glioma cell lines, and promote apoptosis of glioma cell lines via regulating PTEN/AKT signal pathway. It provides a new theoretical basis for the development of anti-glioma drugs. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 1B from [Niu et al (2021)] .  The colony formation assay of glioma cells was carried out after 0, 20 u03bcM, 30 u03bcM, and 50 u03bcM columbamine treatment . ![file] Fig 2 from [Li et al (2021)] .  CDDP CQ-PLA NPs reduces the viability. ... (B) Colony forming assays with a concentration of 40u03bcg mL ![file] , 
 Fig 6A.  Tumors were removed from the mice 18 days after Columbamine and Control treated, respectively n=7. ![file] Fig 7A from [Lv et al (2021)] .  Representative images of dissected tumors from nude mice were presented . ![file] Could the authors comment on the presence of the same tumor in both papers, rescaled and on different backgrounds? , 
 *[below]* Fig 6A again. *[above]* one panel of Fig 3A from [Dong et al (2021)] ,  Representative images of tumors injected with TCCSUP ... cells . Flipped horizontally and stretched slightly. ![] , 
 Retracted [13 July 2021] . ---------------------------------------- The Editor-in-chief and Publisher of Cancer Management and Research wish to retract the published article. Concerns were raised of alleged image duplication with images found in other publications for unrelated studies. Specifically: - Figure 1B, SHG44 panel, Columbamine 50 u00b5M, appears to have been duplicated with an image from Figure 2B panel CDDP CQ-PLA NPs published in Li et al, 2021 . - Figure 6A, Control tumor image, far right, appears to have been duplicated with an image from Figure 7A, LINC00662 vector tumor image, right, which has been rotated, published in Lv et al, 2021 . - Figure 6A, Columbamine tumor images, right, appear to have been duplicated with images from Figure 3A, TCCSUP tumor images, right, which have been flipped, published in Dong et al, 2021 . Despite several attempts, the author could not be contacted for an explanation and the decision was made to retract the article. 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. , 
 There seems to be at least one additional overlap with another seemingly unrelated paper: Figure 2A Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia (2021) doi: 10.36660 abc.20190902. *** ![file] ,