RETRACTED: MicroRNA-191-5p promotes the development of osteosarcoma via targeting EGR1 and activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (Retracted article. See vol. 25, pg. 3145, 2021)

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNA-191 (miR-191) has been reported to be abnormally expressed in human cancers and other diseases. The function of miR-191 was contradictory in different cancers. In the present study, we confirmed the specific function of miR-191-5p in osteosarcoma (OS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The effects of miR-191-5p on cellular behaviors of OS cells were investigated through MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and transwell assay. The quantitative Real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied to examine the expressions of miR-191-5p and early growth response gene 1 (EGR1). Western blot and immunocytochemical assay were used to detect the protein expression of EGR1. The binding relationship between miR-191-5p and EGR1 was confirmed by Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. Xenograft tumor formation assay was conducted to examine the in vivo effect of miR-191-5p on tumor growth of OS. RESULTS: MiR-191-5p was upregulated in OS tissues, which was related to poor prognosis of OS patients. Moreover, miR-191-5p promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating EGR1 in OS. Furthermore, EGR1 was down-regulated in OS tissues, which was associated with poor prognosis of OS patients. MiR-191-5p was found to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and PI3K/AKT pathway, thus promoting the development of OS. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-191-5p promoted the development of OS via targeting EGR1 and positively regulated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.