Retracted : Effects of microRNA‚Ä?30 on vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques formation and vascular endothelial cell proliferation through the WNT signaling pathway in acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Zhu-Bo Zhang
Jing Ren
Ping Lei
Jian-Long Men
Yang Li
Rui Ma
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: MAPK8; MICRORA-330; WNT signaling pathway; acute coronary syndrome; apoptosis
Affiliations: Precision Medicine Center, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China., Department of Geriatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China.

Abstract:  This study is designed to investigate the effects of microRNA (miR)-330 on atherosclerotic plaques formation and vascular endothelial (VE) cell proliferation by targeting MAPK8 through the WNT signaling pathway in rats with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Expression of hemodynamic variables were tested. Rats were allocated into control, blank, negative control (NC), miR-330 mimic, miR-330 inhibitor, DDK-1, miR-330 inhibitor + DDK-1 groups. ELISA was used to evaluate the expression of TC, TG, LDL-C, hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-Œ±, and SAA. Immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used for expression of VEGF, MAPK8, WNT1, Œ≤-catenin, GSK-3Œ≤, p-GSK-3Œ≤, CyclinD1, MMP-9, IL-6, and IL-8. MTT assay and flow cytometry for cell proliferation and apoptosis. Compared with the control group, other groups had lower levels of SBP, DBP, MBP, LVSP, and miR-330, higher levels of HR, LVEDP, TC, TG, LDC-C, hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-Œ±, SAA, higher positive protein expression rates of MAPK8, VEGF, and MMP-9, elevated WNT1, Œ≤-catenin, GSK-3Œ≤ and CyclinD1, and reduced cell proliferation. MAPK8-3'-UTR was targeted by miR-330. Compared with the blank group, the miR-330 mimic and DDK-1 groups had higher levels of SBP, DBP, MBP, LVSP, lower levels of HR, LVEDP, TC, TG, LDC-C, hs-CRP, IL-6, TNF-Œ±, SAA, elevated IL-10, decreased positive protein expression rates of MAPK8 and VEGF, raised cell proliferation and reduced cell apoptosis rates. We conclude that overexpressed miR-330 suppresses atherosclerotic plaques formation while promotes VE cell proliferation by targeting MAPK8 through the WNT signaling pathway in ACS rats. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 At left: Figure 5B.  Protein expression of VEGF, MAPK8, WNT1, u03b2-catenin, GSK-3u03b2, p-GSK-3u03b2, CyclinD1, MMP-9, IL-6, and IL-8 in rat tissues ... B, bar chart of protein expression . The resolution is not ideal on the version available to me, but I hope people can see the kinship in the gamut of protein-blob forms to (at right) Figs 2B and 3A from [Chu et al (2017))] - to pick an example at random.  Here, a montage of other examples of this WB repertoire:  , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . -------------------------------- The above article, published online on 13 December 2017 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between the the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Christian Behl, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. A detailed investigation revealed that several image elements of the experimental data were published elsewhere in a different scientific context. Thus, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. ,