Role of resolvin D1 in psoriasis before and after narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy: A case‚Äêcontrol study
Authors: Dalia Mohamed Abdel Halim
Eman Hassan
Maha Fathy Elmasry
Laila Ahmed Rashed
Journal: Dermatologic Therapy (2021)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: NB-UVB; Resolvin D1; pathogenesis; psoriasis.
Affiliations: Dermatology Department Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University  Cairo Egypt, Kobry ElKobba Military Hospital  Cairo Egypt, Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department Kasr Alainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University  Cairo Egypt

Abstract:  Resolvin D1 (RvD1) is an endogenous lipid mediator that originated from docosahexaenoic acid that stimulates a bimodal mechanism in the anti-inflammatory activity in addition to regulation of the inflammatory reaction. The study aimed at assessing the tissue level of RvD1 in psoriasis to study its role in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis, studying the action of NB-UVB on the level of resolvin D1 in psoriasis, and raising the possibility of using resolvin D1 as a new therapy for psoriasis in the future. This case-control study included 20 psoriasis patients and 20 healthy controls. Patients took narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) for 36 sessions. Skin biopsies were taken before and after treatment from patients and from controls to assess the expression of RvD1 by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our findings revealed a statistically significant difference (P &lt; .001) between psoriasis patients (either before or after treatment) and controls with lower levels of RvD1 in psoriasis patients. On comparing the RvD1 levels in psoriasis patients before and after treatment, a statistically significant increase was detected after treatment (P &lt; .001). Tissue RvD1 levels in psoriasis patients were lower than healthy controls and increased after NB-UVB treatment in psoriasis patients. Thus, it is suggested that RvD1 might have a role in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis. Moreover, the significantly up-regulated tissue levels of RvD1 in patients after treatment with NB-UVB highlighted a novel mechanism of phototherapy-mediated response in psoriasis by up-regulating RvD1 level. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The Western blots and other figures in this paper have an interesting layout that appears to be shared with many other papers, as discussed in a January 2020 post on Leonid Schneider s blog: https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing In almost all papers, Western blot panels within the same figure, and across figures and papers, appear to share the same background, while the bands are regularly spaced, all have similar rounded edges without the usual smudges and specks, and with some bands showing a recognizable  jumping sardine shape. Also in almost all papers, bar graphs show a characteristic layout with bars in solid shades of grey, and the left-most bar in black, as well as double-edged error bars. Many papers have  cell viability and  apoptotic cells graphs. To illustrate the recognizable layout of the graphs in this paper, here is Figure 1.  , 
 *The datasets used and or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.* I have not personally applied to the corresponding author for access to the raw data. , 
 #1 Figures 1(b) and 2(c):  The points (cells) in the 1st and 2nd quadrants of these scatterplots are as regularly spaced as the targets in a Space Invaders game. Notice also the similarities among the cigars of Q4 point-clouds. , 
 Expression of Concern, [1 September 2021] .  After publication of this article, questions about the scientific integrity of the article content were brought to the Publisher and Editoru2019s attention. We have reached out to the authors requesting that they supply information that would confirm the articleu2019s integrity, but the authors have not responded to our queries within the requested timeframe. Therefore, as we continue to work through the issues raised, we advise readers to interpret the information presented in the article with due caution. The authors have been notified about this Expression of Concern. ,