MicroRNA‑124‑3p inhibits cell growth and metastasis in cervical cancer by targeting IGF2BP1
Authors: Ping Wang
Junhui Zhang
Li Zhang
Gangshu Xu
Journal: Experimental and therapeutic medicine (2017)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: cervical cancer; insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1; invasion; microRNA; migration
Affiliations: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China., Department of Neurosurgery, Dezhou People's Hospital, Dezhou, Shandong 253014, P.R. China.

Abstract:  MicroRNAs (miRs) serve a role in promoting and suppressing tumors in various types of malignant cancer, such as cervical cancer. However, the regulatory mechanism of miR-124-3p in cervical cancer remains unclear. In the present study, miR-124-3p was significantly downregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines compared with matching adjacent non-tumor tissues and the normal cervical epithelial cell line End1/E6E7, respectively. Decreased expression of miR-124-3p was associated with advanced cervical cancer and the results of an in vitro study demonstrated that the ectopic expression of miR-124-3p significantly decreased the proliferation, migration and invasion of cervical cancer Caski cells. Furthermore, insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) was identified as a novel target of miR-124-3p. Overexpression of miR-124-3p decreased the expression of IGF2BP1, whereas miR-124-3p knockdown promoted IGF2BP1 expression at the post-transcriptional level in Caski cells. Additionally, overexpression of IGF2BP1 attenuated the suppressive effects of miR-124-3p on the proliferation, migration and invasion of Caski cells. IGF2BP1 was upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and cell lines compared with matching adjacent non-tumor tissues and the End1/E6E7 cell line, respectively. Therefore, the present study suggests that miR-124-3p suppresses the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer by directly targeting IGF2BP. Thus, miR-124-3p may be developed as a novel method of treating cervical cancer. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 2D, 6D. ![file] I set up a spreadsheet to include the various papers using this versatile suite of Transwell images to represent all possible combinations of cell-lines and treatments. This is the 24th manifestation. For comparison: Fig 3 C D from [Zhang et al (2016)] .  Transwell assay were performed to examine the migratory and invasive capacities of Saos-2 and U2OS cells transfected with miR-205 mimic or miR-negative control (NC) mimic , and Fig 7C D,  Transwell assay were performed to examine cell migration and invasion of MG63 or U2OS cells transfected with miR-205 mimic, or co-transfected with miR-205 mimic and RUNX2 plasmid . ![] Figs 4D, 6D from [Xia et al (2016)] . ![] , 
 *[below]* Fig 6C.  Wound healing . Rotated through 180 deg for ease of comparison. *[above]* Figs 2C, 7C from [Pan et al (2017)] .  wound healing assay . ![file] How to explain the shared panel? , 
 Fig 6A.  Western blot analysis was conducted to examine the expression of IGF2BP1 protein. ![file] Compare with Fig 4A,B from [Zhou et al (2017)] :  Saos-2 and U2OS cells were transfected with NC siRNA or NFAIP8-specfic siRNA. (A and B) Western blot analysis was used to determine the protein levels of TNFAIP8 . ![file] Fig 6B from [Zhou et al (2017)] . Figs 7A,B, 9B from [Liu et al (2017)] . Figs 3B, 4B from [Dang et al (2017)] . Fig 4A from [Jiang et al (2017)] . ![file] *[above]* Figs 3H, 4A from [Zhou et al (2016a)] ; and [below] Figs 4C D from [Zhou et al (2016b)] .  Western blot was used to examine the protein levels of EMT-related genes . ![file] , 
 Retracted [20 January 2022] .  Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editorsu2019 attention by a concerned reader that the Transwell cell migration assay data shown in Figs. 2D and 6D were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors. Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been published elsewhere, or were already under consideration for publication, prior to its submission to *Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine*, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive any reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. ,