Long noncoding RNA UCA1 promotes multiple myeloma cell growth by targeting TGF-Œ≤
Authors: L Ge
J Wang
B-Q Zhu
Z-S Zhang
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2018)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: lncRNA UCA1; multiple myeloma; TGF-Œ≤; proliferation; apoptosis
Affiliations: Department of Spine Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: To investigate the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) UCA1 in the multiple myeloma (MM) development. Patients and methods: In samples of MM, the expression of UCA1 and TGF-Œ≤ was investigated using real-time PCR. UCA1 lentiviral small hairpin RNA (shRNA) was transfected in MM cell lines. CCK-8 and colony formation assay were used to detect cell lines proliferation. The cell apoptosis assay was conducted to detect cell apoptosis. Western blot was utilized to detect the protein level of TGF-Œ≤. Results: The expression level of UCA1 increased in MM samples and cell lines, and its high expression was associated with poor MM prognosis. Downregulation of UCA1 significantly inhibited cell lines proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. UCA1 could positively regulate TGF-Œ≤ in MM. Overexpression of TGF-Œ≤ partially reversed the effect of UCA1 knockdown. Conclusions: UCA1 promotes MM cell lines proliferation by targeting TGF-Œ≤. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of a set of 121 papers that all contain images from the same library of about 100 photos and plots. This is unexpected, because each paper has different authors and different affiliations, with little to no overlap, and describes different cancer types and molecules. It would be very hard to explain how authors from different labs would all obtain the same photo. Therefore, the papers might have all be derived from the same source, such as a paper mill that sells ready-to-be-published papers. This  Stock Photo paper set has been described in more detail on my blog post, https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 07 05 the-stock-photo-paper-mill and in a Wall Street Journal article by Eva Xiao (currently behind a paywall): https: www.wsj.com articles chinese-research-papers-raise-doubts-fueling-global-questions-about-scientific-integrity-11593939600 The vast majority (113 121) of the papers were published in the same journal, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (ERMPS). A link to the full set of papers can be found here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 172RWS18w1lTNJ9Nnj80fuXXTqTm4fGkoK0sdYyvKE3g edit?usp=sharing All papers have been reported to the journal editors on July 2, 2020. , 
 Now retracted: https: www.europeanreview.org article 24139 ---------------------------------------- Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cLong noncoding RNA UCA1 promotes multiple myeloma cell growth by targeting TGF-u03b2, by Z.-S. Zhang, J. Wang, B.-Q. Zhu, L. Ge, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018; 22 (5): 1374-1379u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201803_14481u2013PMID: 29565496u201d has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. ,