Retraction Note: MiRNA-215-5p alleviates the metastasis of prostate cancer by targeting PGK1.

The article "MiRNA-215-5p alleviates the metastasis of prostate cancer by targeting PGK1", by J.-Y. Chen, L.-F. Xu, H.-L. Hu, Y.-Q. Wen, D. Chen, W.-H. Liu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2020; 24 (2): 639-646-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_202001_20040-PMID: 32017004 has been retracted by the Editor in Chief. Following some concerns raised on PubPeer regarding a possible overlap in Figure 2C, the journal has started an investigation to assess the validity of the results as well as possible figure manipulation. The journal investigation revealed data and figure manipulation. For this reason, the Editor in Chief has decided to retract the manuscript. The authors have been informed about the retraction but remained unresponsive. This article has been retracted. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/20040.

MiRNA-215-5p alleviates the metastasis of prostate cancer by targeting PGK1.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding RNAs, which exert crucial functions in regulating biological progressions. Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-tumor effect of miRNA-215-5p. However, its specific role in influencing the progression of prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. This study aims to uncover the regulatory effect of miRNA-215-5p on the metastasis and prognosis of PCa. PATIENTS AND METHODS: MiRNA-215-5p levels in collected PCa tissues (n=52) and paracancerous tissues (n=52) were determined by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between miRNA-215-5p level and pathological indexes, as well as overall survival of PCa patients, was analyzed. Regulatory effects of miRNA-215-5p on proliferative and metastatic capacities of LNCaP and DU-145 cells were evaluated through cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assay, respectively. Bioinformatics prediction was performed to search for the target genes of miRNA-215-5p and PGK1 was selected. The biological role of PGK1 in the progression of PCa was finally clarified by a series of rescue experiments. RESULTS: MiRNA-215-5p was lowly expressed in PCa tissues and cell lines. Low level of miRNA-215-5p predicted poor prognosis in PCa patients. The silence of miRNA-215-5p enhanced viability, migratory, and invasive capacities of LNCaP cells, while the overexpression of miRNA-215-5p yielded the opposite trends in DU-145 cells. PGK1 was predicted to be the target of miRNA-215-5p. PGK1 was upregulated in PCa tissues and cell lines and its high level predicted poor prognosis of PCa. Moreover, PGK1 level was negatively correlated to that of miRNA-215-5p in PCa tissues. PGK1 was able to reverse the regulatory effects of miRNA-215-5p on metastatic potentials of PCa cells. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulated miRNA-215-5p in PCa is closely related to distant metastasis and poor prognosis of affected patients. MiRNA-215-5p alleviates the malignant progression of PCa by targeting and downregulating PGK1.

High glucose promotes prostate cancer cells apoptosis via Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influences of high glucose on the proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells and analyze its possible mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP was divided into control group, mannitol group, and high glucose group. Then, the proliferation in each group was detected via methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Hoechst staining assay was performed to determine the apoptosis level in each group. Western blotting was employed to measure the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) proteins. The cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured through 2,7-dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was carried out to detect the content of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and inflammatory factors. RESULTS: High glucose significantly promoted the proliferation of prostate cancer cells LNCaP (p<0.01) and increased the apoptosis level of cells (p<0.01). In high glucose group, the expression level of Caspase-3 protein was overtly increased (p<0.01), while that of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) was significantly decreased (p<0.01). High glucose group had clearly increased the content of ROS (p<0.01), LDH (p<0.01), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p<0.01), but decreased the content of IL-10 (p<0.01). High glucose notably lowered the protein expression levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and γ-GCS in the cells (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: High glucose represses the activation of the Nrf2/anti-oxidation response element (ARE) signaling pathway in prostate cancer cells and increases the content of ROS, IL-6, and the expression of apoptotic proteins in the cells, thus promoting the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.

IL-10 inhibits apoptosis in brain tissue around the hematoma after ICH by inhibiting proNGF.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the roles of interleukin-10 (IL-10), proNGF and p75NTR in apoptosis of brain tissues induced by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: According to the time of sample collection after ICH, brain tissue samples were divided into < 6 h group, 6-24 h group (including 24 h), 24-72 h group (including 72 h) and > 72 h group. Meanwhile, 10 tissues that dropped from the beginning at the cortical stoma (distal part of the hematoma) were harvested as controls. AI in brain tissues around the hematoma after ICH was calculated based on TUNEL staining. Expression levels of IL-10, proNGF and p75NTR in brain tissues were determined by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected by Western blot. Rat cortical astrocytes were harvested and cultured in vitro. After transfection of IL-10 overexpression plasmid, expression levels of IL-10, proNGF and p75NTR were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: AI increased in 6-24 h group, 24-72 h group and > 72 h group compared with < 6 h group and control group, which achieved the peak at 24-72 h. However, no significant difference in AI was observed between < 6 h group and control group. With the prolongation of ICH, IL-10 level gradually decreased and achieved the lowest level at 24-72 h. After 72 h, IL-10 level began to increase. Additionally, mRNA and protein levels of proNGF and p75NTR started to upregulate within 6 h of ICH, achieveing the peak at 24-72 h. Bcl-2 level gradually decreased after 6 h of ICH, while Bax level increased. We did not found significant difference in mRNA and protein levels of IL-10 in brain tissues around hematoma between < 6 h group and control group. With the prolongation of ICH, IL-10 level gradually decreased and achieved the lowest level at 24-72 h. After 72 h, IL-10 level began to increase. Transfection with IL-10 overexpression plasmid in rat astrocytes markedly downregulated protein levels of proNGF and p75NTR compared with those of controls. CONCLUSIONS: IL-10 expression is downregulated in brain tissues around the hematoma after ICH. IL-10 alleviates inflammation and apoptosis by inhibiting levels of proNGF, p75NTR and Bax/Bcl-2, thus protecting brain tissue after ICH.

Down-expression of miR-373 predicts poor prognosis of glioma and could be a potential therapeutic target.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are epigenetic regulators of gene expression, and their deregulation plays an important role in human cancer, including glioma. The main objective of this work was to investigate the expression level of miR-373 and its clinical significance in glioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression levels of miR-373 in glioma tissues and non-neoplastic brain tissues were measured by the qRT-PCR assay. Patients were divided into two groups based on the median miR-373 expression. The probability of differences in overall and progression-free survival as a function of time was ascertained by use of the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis of factors potentially associated with survival was conducted to identify independent factors. RESULTS: In clinical gastric cancer samples, we found that miR-373 expression was significantly down-regulated in glioma tissues compared with non-neoplastic brain tissues (p<0.01). Reduced expression of miR-373 was associated with serum WHO grade (p=0.015) and KPS score (p=0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with low level of miR-373 expression had poorer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate survival analysis verified that miR-373 expression level was an independent predictor of both OS and PFS for glioma patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed miR-373 was associated to progression in glioma, and suggested it as a potential predictive factor for the prognosis of glioma.

Cost-effectiveness of Lamivudine, Telbivudine, Adefovir Dipivoxil and Entecavir on decompensated hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of lamivudine (LMV), telbivudine (LdT), adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and entecavir (ETV) on decompensated hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 1332 patients with decompensated hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis were randomly assigned into 5 groups with different clinical treatment including LMV treatment, LdT treatment, ADV treatment, LMV+ADV treatment and ETV treatment. And then the liver function, Child-Pugh scores, sero-conversion of HBeAg/HBeAb, polymerase gene mutations, cost-effectiveness, incremental cost-effectiveness and side effects were investigated and further analyzed. RESULTS: LMV, ADV, LdT, LMV+ADV and ETV were all effective on decreasing Child-Pugh scores and conversing negatively hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and HBeAg, whereas LMV+ADV and ETV more effective than LMV, ADV and LdT. HBV DNA polymerase genotypic mutations were rare in the 5 groups. The less mutation rate was found in the LMV+ADV and ETV group than in the LMV, ADV and LdT group. Compared to the cost-effectiveness and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ETV was the optimal selection, LMV+ADV was the alternative selection and LMV was the cheapest option. The side effects of the 5 plans were all rare and could be controlled. CONCLUSIONS: LMV, ADV, LdT, LMV+ADV and ETV were all effective on treatment of decompensated hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis whereas ETV and LMV+ADV were recommended.

Functions of microRNA in response to cocaine stimulation.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of non-protein-coding single-stranded RNA, which are typically 20-25 nt in length. miRNAs play important roles in various biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. We aimed to detect the miRNA response to cocaine stimulations and their target genes. Using the miRNA expression data GSE21901 downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we screened out the differentially expressed miRNA after short-term (1 h) and longer-term (6 h) cocaine stimulations based on the fold change >1.2. Target genes of differentially expressed miRNAs were retrieved from TargetScan database with the context score -0.3. Functional annotation enrichment analysis was performed for all the target genes with DAVID. A total of 121 differentially expressed miRNAs between the 1-h treatment and the control samples, 58 between the 6-h treatment and the control samples, and 69 between the 1-h and the 6-h treatment samples. Among them, miR-212 results of particular interest, since its expression level was constantly elevated responding to cocaine treatment. After functional and pathway annotations of target genes, we proved that miR-212 was a critical element in cocaine-addiction, because of its involvement in regulating several important cell cycle events. The results may pave the way for further understanding the regulatory mechanisms of cocaine-response in human bodies.