Protection of miR‚Ä?9b in hypoxia/reoxygenation‚Äêinduced injury by targeting PTEN
Authors: Rong Xiang
Li-Li Han
Wan-Gen Liu
Journal: Journal of Cellular Physiology (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: PC12 cells; PI3K/Akt signaling pathway; PTEN; hypoxia/reoxygenation; miR-19b.
Affiliations: Department of Neurology Cangzhou Central Hospital Cangzhou Hebei China

Abstract:  Objective: To study the role and mechanism of microRNA 19b (miR-19b) in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced injury by targeting PTEN. Methods: PC12 and BV2 cells induced by H/R were treated with miR-19b mimics/inhibitors or small interfering PTEN (si-PTEN), respectively. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) content was detected. Besides, cell viability and apoptosis were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Hoechst33342 staining, and flow cytometry, whereas mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) tested by JC-1 assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) evaluated by the dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay. The ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) rats model was used to investigate the effects of miR-19b in vivo test. The infarct area and apoptosis rates in brain tissues were detected by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling staining, respectively. miR-19b and PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway-related proteins were detected by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. Results: miR-19b mimics could reduce LDH, MDA, and ROS levels and decline cell apoptosis, but enhance the viability, MMP, and SOD activity with decreased PTEN and cleaved caspase, as well as increased p-Akt/Akt and Bcl-2/Bax ratios in H/R-induced PC12 and BV2 cells. However, miR-19b inhibitors led to completely opposite results to aggravate H/R-induced cell injury. Meanwhile, si-PTEN could reverse the effect of miR-19b inhibitors on H/R-induced injury. Moreover, treatment with miR-19b agomir after I/R in vivo sufficiently decreased infarct area and reduced apoptosis rates by targeting PTEN through the regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. Conclusion: miR-19b could inhibit oxidative stress, enhance cell MMP, promote cell survival, and inhibit cell apoptosis by targeting PTEN via the regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway, thus playing the neuronal protective effects. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 *[left]* Fig 8.  In vivo effect of miRu201019b on the ischemia reperfusion. ... (b) Results of TUNEL staining among groups . *[right]* Fig 4(a) from [Wen et al (2018)] *[retracted]*.  TUNEL staining indicates that the model group had increased cell apoptosis rate in hippocampal CA1 region. Note: (a) cell apoptosis of the two groups using TUNEL staining .  Both teams of authors evidently used the same image. , 
 Fig 8a.  Infarct area of rat brain tissues in each group detected by TTC staining, 1, Sham; 2, I R group; 3, I R + miRu201019b agomir group .  Fig 1A from [Zheng et al (2018)] .  Representative TTC staining of the cerebral infarct in comparable sections of rat brain, 24h after ischemia .  Could the authors of either group of authors comment on the apparent duplication? , 
 #2 As a co-author of Zheng et al (2018), I would like to ask the authors (Wanu2010Gen Liu, Liu2010Li Han , Rong Xiang) for the reason to use our data without asking our permission. We will report this issue to Journal of Cellular Physiology. I wish you had all un-cropped original figures as we do, so that when the journal contacts you, you could provide them! , 
 #1 Fig 8b again:  Fig 4a from [Han et al (2018)] ,  Results of TUNEL staining among groups .  , 
 #2 Dear authors, We have reported to *Journal of Cellular Physiology* that you used our published figures without our authorization on August. We have followed up with the journal for couple times. The journal told us that they are investigating this issue. I believe that you should have been contacted by the journal. We wish you could provide raw data to the journal so that they will be able to close the case. Thanks! , 
 #5 In many jurisdictions, reuse of images in the the sake of criticism is perfectly legal. If you have uncropped images, you can share them here, that way future readers can simply view this page to assuage their concerns, rather than bothering the authors of this paper, or the journal editors. , 
 #6 Comment #5 is not about the criticism within this thread. The commenter addresses the appropriation of images from Zheng et al (2018), and their use (with different labels) within the paper presently under criticism. , 
 Retracted [8 March 2022] . -------------------------------- The above article, published online on 14 February 2019 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Gregg Fields, 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. ,