Retracted: Effect of CLIC 1 gene silencing on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human gallbladder cancer cells
Authors: Xiang Nan
Zhong-Lin Zhang
Yue-Ming He
Chen Xi
Yu-Sha Xiao
Lei Wei
Quan-Yan Liu
Journal: Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: CLIC1 gene silencing; GBC-SD cell; apoptosis; gallbladder cancer; invasion
Affiliations: Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China., College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.

Abstract:  This study aimed to explore the effects of CLIC1 gene silencing on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human gallbladder cancer (GBC). GBC and normal gallbladder tissues were extracted for the detection of mRNA and protein expressions of CLIC1. GBC-SD and NOZ cells in the logarithmic growth phase were selected to conduct the experiment. Three different siRNA recombined expression vectors were established using CLIC1 as a target at different sites. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting were, respectively, used to detect the CLIC1 mRNA and protein expressions. MTT assay was performed to detect the cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was applied to measure the cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution. The variations of cell migration and invasion were evaluated using Transwell assay. GBC tissues showed higher CLIC1 mRNA and protein expressions than normal gallbladder tissues. The CLIC1 mRNA and protein expressions in the CLIC1 siRNA group were significantly lower than those in the NC and blank groups. Compared with the NC and blank groups, the CLIC1 siRNA group showed a significant decrease in cell proliferation but an obvious increase in apoptosis rate in GBC cells. Besides, in the CLIC1 siRNA group, cell percentage in G0/G1 and G2/M phase was gradually increased but decreased in S phases. The migration and invasion abilities in GBC cells were significantly lower than those in the NC and blank groups. Our study demonstrates that CLIC1 gene silencing could promote apoptosis and inhibit proliferation migration and invasion of GBC cells. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 4 A,C.  Protein expression of CLIC1 at different timeu2010points in the CLIC1 siRNA, NC and blank groups. (A) Western blotting of CLIC1 protein expression in GBCu2010SD cells; ...(C) Western blotting of CLIC1 protein expression in NOZ cells .  One protein blob (magenta box) appears twice, in different contexts. It, and the blobs marked in orange and green, feature in a number of otherwise-unrelated papers. Here, Fig. 3A from [Huang et al (2017)] at left; Fig 5(a) from [Gao et al (2018)] at right.  , 
 Fig 7 A,C.  Cell apoptosis at 48 hrs after transfection in the CLIC1 siRNA, NC and blank groups by flow cytometry. (A, C) cell apoptosis of GBCu2010SD and NOZ in the CLIC1 siRNA, NC and blank groups by flow cytometry.  Repeated section in the 7C panels marked. The NC panel in 7A has interesting qualities. , 
 Retracted [4 May 2021] . -------------------------------------------- The above article from Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, published online on 8 March 2018 on Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the journal Editor-in-Chief and John Wiley Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. Inconsistencies in flow cytometry experiments were found and several image elements of presented western blots were found to be published previously in a different scientific context. The editors consider the conclusions invalid. ,