RETRACTED: Activation of murine peritoneal macrophages by sulfated exopolysaccharide from marine microalga Gyrodinium impudicum (strain KG03): Involvement of the NF-Œ∫B and JNK pathway
Authors: Suhkneung Pyo
Joung Han Yim
Sung-Yun Bae
Hong Kum Lee
Journal: International Immunopharmacology (2006)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Retraction; Western blot; Inappropriate re-use; Published figures; Methoxychalcone
Affiliations: Division of Immunopharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, 440-746 South Korea.

Abstract:  This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief, as there are concerns about inappropriate re-use of published figures. In this study, the same Western blot has been used to represent different studies with different drugs (methoxychalcone vs ganodermanondiol), cell extracts (macrophages versus hepatocytes) and different targets (Nrf2 vs LKB1). The concern was initially raised in PubPeer, the response from author on PubPeer was not acceptable. The journal Editor in Chief requested the author to provide the explanation, however, the author was not able to fulfil this request. PubPeer - Activation of murine peritoneal macrophages by sulfated exop‚Ä?[pubpeer.com] 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
  Fig. 3. NLRP3 and caspase-1 expression in myocardial tissues between the normal and atherosclerosis groups. (A) Western blotting images for NLRP3 and caspase-1. One distinctive protein blob also appears in *[right]* Fig 5(a) of [Gao et al (2018)] ,  protein bands of MCF-7 related cells detected by Western blot analysis .  Other examples of the same distinctive blob (in its loading-control role): Fig 8(a) of [Wu et al (2018)] , though the resolution leaves much to be desired.  7C of [Lu et al (2018)] and 6C of [Jiang et al (2018)] .  , 
  Fig. 1. Microscope images of the coronary artery .  The Normal artery appears to be the same as in Fig 1A of [Lian et al (2018)] .  Coronary artery changes the relative expression of miR-383-3p, ILIR2, and caspase-1 in the myocardial tissues of the normal and AS rats. A, Oil red O staining results reveal that mature atherosclerotic plaques are observed in the coronary artery of AS rats .  No authors in common. , 
 #1 It seems the same as someone just have a look at the protein blob, but it is difference when double check. #2 It is so surprise the normal artery appears to be the same. What happen? , 
 #3 Regarding your response to #2, Iu2019m afraid that the problem is that the images do not appear to be identical, but are clearly from the same source. The differences suggest deliberate manipulation rather than a simple mistake of selecting the same image twice. *** Inverse image helps display the many similar background features  , 
 #3 I agree with #4 that these 2 samples of normal coronary artery could very likely be traced back to a common source, aka the same sample from an animal. I added the following illustration to supplement #4 s comment. To add one more point. Even for the same sample from the same animal, if it was pinned flat by two different people before shooting pictures, its pics would not have ended up so similar to each other, especially not for the arrangement of the pins. Simply put, there is not a universal SOP how to arrange the pins while preparing the samples for a lineup.  , 
 #3  It seems the same as someone just have a look at the protein blob, but it is difference when double check. Here I have lightened Fig 3A, to facilitate comparison with Fig 5A from of Gao et al (2018) [at right]. I have enlarged the corresponding protein blobs from Fig 5A, and vertically stretched one of them.  Perhaps if a scan of the original gel is available, that would help. , 
 [Retracted] . ----------------------- The article u201cProtective Effects of Microrna-22 Against Endothelial Cell Injury by Targeting NLRP3 Through Suppression of the Inflammasome Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model of Coronary Heart Diseaseu201d [Cell Physiol Biochem 2017;43:1346u20131358. DOI: 10.1159 000481846] by Wei-Qiang Huang, Peng Wei, Ri-Qi Lin and Feng Huang has been retracted by the current and former Publishers and Editor at the authors request. Following publication, concerns were raised regarding the images presented in Figure 1A and Figure 3A. When contacted, the authors supplied the original image and data files. The authors state that the luciferase experiment was performed by a third party company, as was language editing prior to manuscript submission. The authors state that all other experiments in this article were conducted by their group and that it is unclear how Figure 1 and Figure 3A- Caspase1 were published in other articles submitted in 2017 and 2018. Following review of the original data, concerns were raised regarding the multiplication of qPCR values for figure presentation which was not declared in the methods section. The authors have requested retraction of the article due to the inaccurate qPCR calculation method and the presence of the images in Figure 1A-Normal and Figure 3A-Caspase1 in other articles. ,