Retraction Note to “SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis Regulates Cell Cycle Progression and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via Up-regulation of Survivin in Glioblastoma”

Stromal cell-derived factor 1(SDF-1)/ CXCR4ligand-receptor axis is widely recommended as an attractive target for cancer therapy. Meanwhile, epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) process is linked to disease pathophysiology. As one of inhibitorsof apoptosisproteins, survivinis implicated in the onset and development of cancer. In the present study, we tried to determine the cause-effect associations between SDF-1/ CXCR4axis and survivinexpression in glioblastoma U-251 cell line. Survivinactivation and inhibition were induced with exogenous SDF-1 and survivinsmall interfering RNA ( survivinsiRNA), respectively. Western blot was used to detect relevant proteins in SDF-1/ CXCR4axis. Western blot analysis revealed that survivinexpression in U-251 increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to SDF-1 treatment. However, the interference with MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathway prohibited SDF-1-induced survivinup-regulation. Importantly, survivinknockdown abrogated cell cycle progression and the expression of snail and N-cadherin, compared with non-transfectants. In conclusion, the present study shows that SDF-1 up-regulates survivinvia MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathway, leading to cell cycle progression and EMT occurrence dependent on survivin. The blockade of survivinwill allow for the treatment of glioblastoma.