Silencing circANKRD36 protects H9c2 cells against lipopolysaccharide-induced injury via up-regulating miR-138
Authors: Shaohui Zhang
Shengwei Shi
Qifeng Jin
Huiling Zhang
Deguang Wu
Journal: Experimental and molecular pathology (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: H9c2 cells; Lipopolysaccharide; circANKRD36; miR-138; p38MAPK/NF-Œ∫B pathway.
Affiliations: Department of Cardiology I, People's Hospital of Juye County, Heze 274900, China., Department of Cardiology III, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China. Electronic address: ., Department of Cardiology I, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China., Department of Cardiology V, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China.

Abstract:  This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. Following the concerns raised about the background pattern of the Western Blots from Figures 1C and 3D, the corresponding author has contacted the journal to request the retraction of the article. Given the comments of Dr Elisabeth Bik regarding this article ‚ÄúThis paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels‚Ä? the journal requested the authors to provide the raw data. However, the authors were not able to fulfil this request and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
  Fig. 3. LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammatory injury was alleviated when silenced circANKRD36. ... (D) Cleaved-Caspase-3 and cleaved-Caspase-9 expression was reduced when circANKRD36 was silenced.  Lower version has increased contrast to highlight the background texture, and in particular the repeating features across the bands. Is this normal?  Fig. 1. Apoptosis and viability was raised by LPS exposure. ...(C) Cleaved-Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-9 expression was remarkably elevated when H9c2 cells were induced by LPS.   Again, unexpected similarities within the background texture of the bands, highlighted at right by increasing contrast. , 
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Retracted [23 November 2021] . -------------------------- This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. Following the concerns raised about the background pattern of the Western Blots from Figs. 1C and 3D, the corresponding author has contacted the journal to request the retraction of the article. Given the comments of Dr. Elisabeth Bik regarding this article u201cThis paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panelsu201d, the journal requested the authors to provide the raw data. However, the authors were not able to fulfil this request and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article. , 
 A [report from the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College] , from September 30 2021, reads as follows {thanks Google Translate): -------------------------- 12.  Silencing circANKRD36 protects H9c2 cells against lipopolysaccharide-induced injury via up-regulating miR-138 by Zhang Shaohui from the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College as the corresponding author. After investigation, Zhang Shaohui of Jining Medical College Affiliated Hospital is the corresponding author, Zhang Huiling is the third author, Jin Qifeng is the fourth author, and Wu Deguang is the fifth author of the paper  Silencing circANKRD36 protects H9c2 cells against lipopolysaccharide-induced injury via up-regulating miR- 138u201d There is a problem of buying and selling papers and thesis fraud. The Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College will deal with the relevant responsible persons as follows: 1. Give corresponding author Zhang Shaohui (1) order him to make an in-depth inspection; (2) order him to withdraw the manuscript of the papers involved; (3) cancel the five-year application for scientific and technological plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), scientific and technological awards, scientific and technological talents Title and other qualifications, from March 2, 2020 to March 1, 2025; (4) Cancellation of five-year postgraduate tutor application and appointment qualifications from March 2, 2020 to March 1, 2025 (5) Cancellation of the three-year professional title promotion qualification from March 2, 2020 to March 1, 2023; (6) Criticism is reported in the hospital. 2. The third author Zhang Huiling, the fourth author Jin Qifeng, and the fifth author Wu Deguang will be criticized in the hospital. ,