miR-331-3p Inhibits Proliferation and Promotes Apoptosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells by Targeting elf4B-PI3K-AKT Pathway
Authors: Jia Jun
Zhang Chun
Huang Junrong
Zhang Xuefang
Chen Yuming
Jiang Liji
Zheng Qiaolan
Zheng Ruinian
Journal: Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment (2020)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: PI3K–AKT signaling pathway; elF4B; miRNA-331-3p; nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Affiliations: Department of Radiotherapy, Dongguan People' Hospital, Dongguan, China., Department of Medical Oncology, Dongguan People' Hospital, Dongguan, Guangdong, China., Department of Journal Center, Third Affiliated Hospital of SUN YAT-SEN University, Guangzhou, China.

Abstract:  Background: The incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is increasing gradually, but the pathogenesis is not completely clear. MicroRNA, a highly conserved endogenous noncoding small molecule RNA, plays an essential role in the regulation of gene expression and is a hotspot in cancer research worldwide. Objectives: Although previous studies have confirmed that the abnormal expression of microRNAs is closely related to the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the role of miRNA-331-3p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and mechanism of miRNA-331-3p in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and methods: Real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression of miRNA-331-3p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma clinical samples and cell lines (CNE-1 and 5-8F cells). After overexpression of miRNA-331-3p in CNE-1 cells, cell proliferation was measured by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, cell invasion was detected by Transwell assay, and apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry. In addition, the dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the target gene of miRNA-331-3p and Western blotting was performed to measure the relative protein expression. Results: The expression of miRNA-331-3p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma clinical samples and cells was decreased significantly. Overexpression of miRNA-331-3p markedly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of CNE-1 cells and promoted cell apoptosis. Moreover, overexpression of miRNA-331-3p reduced the expression of target gene elF4B, leading to inhibition of the phosphorylation of Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Serine/ threonine kinase (AKT). Conclusion: miRNA-331-3p inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by targeting elF4B gene and then blocked the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Significance: The role of miRNA-331-3p in the development of NPC and its mechanism provide new ideas for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 2A: * Blue boxes: The  control and  NC panels appear to show an overlap. ![file] , 
 #1 I came across this independently and it is an obvious error. Curiously, the non-institutional email address for the corresponding author has no resemblance to that authoru2019s name. , 
 Now corrected. Corrigendum, [October 1 2020] . --------------------------------------- The published version of Figure 2 is incorrect. The correct version of the figure is as given below: ![] , 
 **Retracted**, July 26, 2022: https: doi.org 10.1177 15330338221109185  *Following article publication, the authors contacted the journal editorial office to request that the article be withdrawn from publication because they wanted to supplement the article with additional novel findings.* *Upon further investigation, the following image duplications were found:* - *Figure 3B PARP panel NC and miR-331-3p PARP lanes appear highly similar to the Supplementary Figure 1 Eif4B panel.* - *Figure 5A GAPDH panel Control and NC lanes appear highly similar to Figure 5B p-PI3K panel Control and NC lanes.* - *Figure 5B GAPDH panel NC and miR-331-3p lanes appear highly similar to the Supplementary Figure 1 PI3K panel u201cTumor and Normalu201d PI3K bands.* *The authors did not respond to journal requests for details regarding their article or regarding the image duplications. Due to questions about the data presented in the article, the findings in the article are unreliable. The Executive Editor of Technology in Cancer Research Treatment has determined these are grounds for retraction.* ,