Dexmedetomidine Regulates Proliferation, Apoptosis, Migration, and Invasion in Ovarian Cancer Cells via MiR-155-HIF-1α Axis
Authors: Juan Zhao
Ruimei Jia
Lihong Zheng
Journal: Medical Science Monitor (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Dexmedetomidine; OC cells; proliferation; apoptosis; migration
Affiliations: Department of Anesthesiology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China (mainland)., Department of Pain Clinic, The First Affiliated Hospital Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China (mainland)., Department of Anesthesiology, Taixing People's Hospital, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China (mainland).

Abstract:  BACKGROUND Dexmedetomidine (DMED) is widely used as an adjuvant anesthetic, but how DMED regulates biological behavior of OC cells remains an area of active research. This study investigated the mechanism by which DMED regulates the proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion abilities of OC cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS We determined the optimal concentration of DMED for use in treating SKOV3 cells. The biological activities of DMED-treated SKOV3 cells following transfection with miR-155 inhibitor or si-HIF-1alpha were measured by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay. qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to assess the expression levels of apoptotic-related caspase-3 and Mcl-1. Luciferase reporter assay verified the targeting relationship of miR-155 and HIF-1alpha. RESULTS miR-155 was downregulated while HIF-1alpha was upregulated in SKOV3 cells. DMED dose-dependently reduced HIF-1alpha expression in SKOV3 cells, and upregulated the expression of miR-155. DMED inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of OC cells, but also contributed to apoptosis of SKOV3 cells, while transfection of miR-155 inhibitor inhibited the effect of DMED on SKOV3 cells. In contrast, transfection with si-HIF-1alpha enhanced the effects of DMED on SKOV3 cells. HIF-1alpha was found to be a target gene of miR-155. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that DMED blocks cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and accelerates cell apoptosis in OC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 3C. * Blue boxes: The same group of data points appears to be visible in two different panels. ![file] , 
 Figure 3F and 5E, as analyzed with ImageTwin. Lots of unexpected similarities between the different panels. ![file] , 
 Figures 3G and 5F appear to show some repetitive elements. I have marked a couple to illustrate my concern without trying to be comprehensive. ![file] , 
 Figure 5B.  DMED regulates miR-155-HIF-1a axis to mediate cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of OC cells. ... (B) Cell apoptosis was determined with flow cytometry . ![file] The panels appear to be based on Fig 6A of [Zhu et al (2018)] .  The flow cytometry analysis of annexin Vu2010FITC PI staining indicates that miRu2010198 upregulation or HGF cu2010MET signaling pathway inhibition induces A549 and SPCAu20101 cell apoptosis. (A) Apoptosis conditions of A549 cells . Or possibly other, very similar figures in the same *oeuvre*, as linked in that thread (which is why all the other coloured rectangles). ![] , 
 Retracted [13 January 2021] .  This paper is retracted at the authoru2019s request . ,