<p>MicroRNA-423 Drug Resistance and Proliferation of Breast Cancer Cells by Targeting ZFP36</p>
Authors: Teng Cheng
Xingrui Li
Yun Liu
Yaying Du
Wenfei Xia
Xiaopeng Hu
Journal: OncoTargets and Therapy (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Wnt/β-catenin; ZFP36; breast cancer; miR-423; micro RNAs.
Affiliations: Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Division of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China., Department of ENT, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, People's Republic of China.

Abstract:  Background/aims: The effects of microRNA-423 on proliferation and drug resistance of breast cancer cells were explored, the downstream target genes of miR-423 and the targeted regulatory relationship between them were studied. Methods: RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of miR-423 in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, and the transfection efficiency of miR-423 inhibitory vector miR-423-inhibitor was constructed and verified. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to examine the effect of miR-423 on tumor cell proliferation. Target gene prediction and screening and luciferase reporter assay were used to verify downstream target genes of miR-432. The mRNA and protein expression of miR-423target gene ZFP36 was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results: The expression of miR-423 was significantly higher than that in normal tissues. Compared to the non-malignant mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A, the expression of miR-423 was significantly raised in MCR-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells. ZFP36 was a downstream target gene of miR-423 and negatively correlated with the expression of miR-423 in breast cancer. The knockdown of miR-423 can significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of the drug, increase the apoptotic rate of MCF-7/ADR cells. miR-423 was capable of activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway leading to chemoresistance and proliferation, whereas overexpression of ZFP36 reduced drug resistance and proliferation. Conclusion: miR-423 acted as an oncogene to promote tumor cell proliferation and migration. ZFP36 was a downstream target gene of miR-423, and miR-423 inhibited the expression of ZFP36 via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway of breast cancer cells. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 2E F, 5A, 6A. ![file] Western Blots of this appearance (string-of-sausage bands that retain the same general conformation from band to band and between gels) appear frequently within [a distinct *oeuvre* of papers] , along with other unifying elements. Here, for comparison, the WBs from [Jiao et al (2019)] *[retracted]*. ![file] Here, the WBs from [Wang et al (2019)] *[retracted]*. ![file] , 
 There appears to be some images in this paper which appear in at least one other paper (in some cases after rotation), seemingly with a set of 4 papers involved. There seems to be two papers with common authors, but the others seem unrelated. Of note, the Journal of Cancer (2019) was retracted u201cdue to concerns on multiple image duplications as identified by PubPeer users. The corresponding author has been contacted by the journal, and the authors expressed apology for their negligence and mistakes in this paper.u201d Figure 2D (upper left) Journal of Cancer (2022) doi: 10.7150 jca.62787 Received 15 May 2021 https: pubpeer.com publications B4EEF4C364C4CFD562DDCB029F965F Figure 3C (lower left) OncoTargets and Therapy (2020) doi:10.2147 ott.s217745 Received 30 May 2019 https: pubpeer.com publications 6A7FD31BAF2A764D5A0FC4CD928807 Figure 2J (upper right) Cell Proliferation (2020) doi: 10.1111 cpr.12833 Received: 14 January 2020 https: pubpeer.com publications E895DBD3B6277460E277A43926A185 Figure 2B (lower right) Journal of Cancer (2019) RETRACTED doi: 10.7150 jca.29931 Received 12 December 2018 https: pubpeer.com publications F8CD809499CDCEC1BB53327CE808A0 *** ![file] , 
 #2 Figs 2E F, 5A, 6A again: ![] Figs 7B E F, 1C from [Ouyang et al (2020)] : ![] , 
 Retracted [2 May 2022] . -------------------------- Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the reliability of the western blot images used in Figure 2, Figure 5 and Figure 6. In addition, concerns were also raised regarding the alleged duplication of images in Figure 3C with those from unrelated articles. Specifically, - Figure 3C, panel miR-NC ADR (0u00b5g ml), appears to have been duplicated with images from Figure 2D, panel MG-63 spheroids (sh-con), in Ma and Zhang, 2022 and Figure 2B, panel hFOB1.19 cells 72h, in Zhang et al, 2019 . The authors contacted the journal requesting for the article to be retraced as they were unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the alleged image duplication. The authors did provide original data for the study; however, this was also not satisfactory. The Editor agreed with the decision 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. , 
 - Fig 6B from  EZH2-Mediated microRNA-375 Upregulation Promotes Progression of Breast Cancer via the Inhibition of FOXO1 and the p53 Signaling Pathway ([Guan et al 201] ). - Fig 2B from  The microRNA-130a-5p RUNX2 STK32A network modulates tumor invasive and metastatic potential in non-small cell lung cancer ([Ma et al 2020] ). - **Fig 3C**. - Fig 2B from  IL-6 Promotes Cancer Stemness and Oncogenicity in U2OS and MG-63 Osteosarcoma Cells by Upregulating the OPN-STAT3 Pathway ([Zhang et al 2020] ) **[retracted]**. ![file] , 
 - Fig 4h i from  Downregulation of long nonu2010coding RNA LOC101928477 correlates with tumor progression by regulating the epithelialu2010mesenchymal transition in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ([Kong et al 2021] ). - Fig 8e from  Circular RNA CDR1as sponges miR-7-5p to enhance E2F3 stability and promote the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma ([Zhoing et al 2019] ). - **Fig 3F**. ![] , 
 - *[upper left]* Fig 3C from  Depleting long noncoding RNA HOTAIR attenuates chronic myelocytic leukemia progression by binding to DNA methyltransferase 1 and inhibiting PTEN gene promoter methylation ([Song et al 2021] ). - *[lower left]* Fig 3E from  microRNA-18a from M2 Macrophages Inhibits TGFBR3 to Promote Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Progression and Tumor Growth via TGF-u03b2 Signaling Pathway ([Peng et al 2020] ). - *[right]* **Fig 4C**. ![file] , 
 - *[left]* Fig 5D from  MicroRNA-802 Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Human Laryngeal Cancer by Targeting cAMP-Regulated Phosphoprotein 19 ([Ye et al 2020] ). - *[right]* **Fig 6C**. ![file] ,