[Retracted] MicroRNA­625 inhibits the progression of non­small cell lung cancer by directly targeting HOXB5 and deactivating the Wnt/ß­catenin pathway.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editors' attention by a concerned reader that certain of the flow cytometric data shown in Fig. 2C and the images of tumors shown in Fig. 7B 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 International Journal of Molecular Medicine, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. Independently of this investigation, the authors also requested a retraction of this article owing to the fact that the manuscript had been published without permission from one of the authors. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [the original article was published in International Journal of Molecular Medicine 44: 346­356, 2019; DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2019.4203].

Characterization of a Saccharum spontaneum with a basic chromosome number of x = 10 provides new insights on genome evolution in genus Saccharum.

KEY MESSAGE: A novel tetraploid S. spontaneum with basic chromosome x = 10 was discovered, providing us insights in the origin and evolution in Saccharum species. Sugarcane (Saccharum spp., Poaceae) is a leading crop for sugar production providing 80% of the world's sugar. However, the genetic and genomic complexities of this crop such as its high polyploidy level and highly variable chromosome numbers have significantly hindered the studies in deciphering the genomic structure and evolution of sugarcane. Here, we developed the first set of oligonucleotide (oligo)-based probes based on the S. spontaneum genome (x = 8), which can be used to simultaneously distinguish each of the 64 chromosomes of octaploid S. spontaneum SES208 (2n = 8x = 64) through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). By comparative FISH assay, we confirmed the chromosomal rearrangements of S. spontaneum (x = 8) and S. officinarum (2n = 8x = 80), the main contributors of modern sugarcane cultivars. In addition, we examined a S. spontaneum accession, Np-X, with 2n = 40 chromosomes, and we found that it was a tetraploid with the unusual basic chromosome number of x = 10. Assays at the cytological and DNA levels demonstrated its close relationship with S. spontaneum with basic chromosome number x = 8 (the most common accessions in S. spontaneum), confirming its S. spontaneum identity. Population genetic structure and phylogenetic relationship analyses between Np-X and 64 S. spontaneum accessions revealed that Np-X belongs to the ancient Pan-Malaysia group, indicating a close relationship to S. spontaneum with basic chromosome number of x = 8. This finding of a tetraploid S. spontaneum with basic chromosome number of x = 10 suggested a parallel evolution path of genomes and polyploid series in S. spontaneum with different basic chromosome numbers.

MicroRNA-625 inhibits the progression of non­small cell lung cancer by directly targeting HOXB5 and deactivating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway.

Numerous microRNAs (miRs) are dysregulated in non­small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), serving pivotal roles in its formation and progression. miR­625 is dysregulated in several types of human cancer, but its involvement in the formation and development of NSCLC remains poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to investigate miR­625 expression in NSCLC and its role in regulating NSCLC cell behavior. miR­625 expression in NSCLC tissues and cell lines was detected using reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The effects of miR­625 overexpression on NSCLC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion in vitro were assessed using an MTT assay, flow cytometry, and cell migration and invasion assays, respectively. The effects of miR­625 upregulation on NSCLC growth were evaluated in an in vivo xenograft model. The molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor­suppressing roles of miR­625 in NSCLC were explored in detail. miR­625 expression was determined to be downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. This decreased expression was associated with advanced clinical features and poor overall survival of patients with NSCLC. Exogenous miR­625 expression suppressed NSCLC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and induced apoptosis in vitro. miR­625 upregulation hindered NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Homeobox B5 (HOXB5) was proposed to be the direct target gene of miR­625 in NSCLC cells. The tumor­suppressing effects of HOXB5 silencing were similar to those of miR­625 overexpression in NSCLC cells. In rescue experiments, HOXB5 overexpression partially reversed the inhibitory effects of miR­625 in NSCLC cells. miR­625 upregulation directly targeted HOXB5 to deactivate the Wnt/ß­catenin signaling pathway in NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo. miR­625 was determined to be associated with HOXB5 suppression and Wnt/ß­catenin pathway deactivation, which in turn inhibited the aggressive behavior of NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Comprehensively Characterizing the Cytological Features of Saccharum spontaneum by the Development of a Complete Set of Chromosome-Specific Oligo Probes.

Chromosome-specific identification is a powerful technique in the study of genome structure and evolution. However, there is no reliable cytogenetic marker to unambiguously identify each of the chromosomes in sugarcane (Saccharum spp., Poaceae), which has a complex genome with a high level of ploidy and heterozygosity. In this study, we developed a set of oligonucleotide (oligo)-based probes through bioinformatic design and massive synthetization. These probes produced a clear and bright single signal in each of the chromosomes and their eight homologous chromosomes in the ancient species Saccharum spontaneum (2n = 8x = 64). Thus, they can be used as reliable markers to robustly label each of the chromosomes in S. spontaneum. We then obtained the karyotype data and established a nomenclature based on chromosomal sizes for the eight chromosomes of the octoploid S. spontaneum. In addition, we also found that the 45S and 5S rDNAs demonstrated high copy number variations among different homologous chromosomes, indicating a rapid evolution of the highly repeated sequence after polyploidization. Our fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay also demonstrated that these probes could be used as cross-species markers between or within the genera of Sorghum and Saccharum. By comparing FISH analyses, we discovered that several chromosome rearrangement events occurred in S. spontaneum, which might have contributed to the basic chromosome number reduction from 10 in sorghum to 8 in sugarcane. Consistent identification of individual chromosomes makes molecular cytogenetic study possible in sugarcane and will facilitate fine chromosomal structure and karyotype evolution of the genus Saccharum.