Ailanthone exerts an antitumor function on the development of human lung cancer by upregulating microRNA-195
Authors: Xiangdong Wang
Yubing Wu
Shizhen Hou
Ziming Cheng
Wenling Wang
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: JAK/STAT3; PI3K/AKT; ailanthone; antitumor; lung cancer
Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Linyi Central Hospital, Linyi, China.

Abstract:  Background: Lung cancer is a common leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Ailanthone, a natural compound isolated from Chinese herb Ailanthus altissima, has been reported to exert antiproliferative effects on various cancer cells. Methods: The present study aimed to investigate the role of ailanthone in the lung cancer cells and the correlation between the ailanthone and microRNA (miR)-195. The cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis were determined by cell counting kit-8 assay, bromodeoxyuridine incorporation method, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assay, respectively. Apoptosis- and autophagy-related proteins, as well as regulatory factors in the signaling pathways, were analyzed by Western blot method. The expression of miR-195 was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results: The results confirmed that ailanthone was involved in the lung cancer cell progress by inhibiting cell viability and proliferation, but promoted cell apoptosis and autophagy. We also found that ailanthone upregulated the expression of miR-195. Further, the downregulated miR-195 inhibited the apoptosis and autophagy induced by ailanthone. Moreover, our studies revealed that miR-195 inhibitor promoted the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, JAK, and STAT3, which was inhibited by ailanthone. Conclusion: All these findings suggest that ailanthone plays key roles in lung cancer progress and is closely correlated with miR-195 expression. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The Western blots in this paper have an interesting appearance that appears to be shared with blots in other papers from other research groups, such as these papers published in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry: * Ying Liu et al. 2019, DOI: 10.1002 jcb.29568 * Long Liu et al. 2020, DOI: 10.1002 jcb.29642 * Lin Zhang et al. 2019, DOI: 10.1002 jcb.28729 * Yugeng Li et al. 2019, DOI: 10.1002 jcb.29146 * Xiaoliang Yang et al. 2019, DOI: 10.1002 jcb.28829 * Ning Han et al. 2019, DOI: 10.1002 jcb.29638 All these papers share particular characteristics, such as similar title structure, similar graph design, and the appearance of the Western blots. Western blot panels within the same figure, and across figures and papers, appear to share the same background or parts of the background. In addition, the bands are regularly spaced, all have similar rounded edges, without the usual smudges and specks. The bands also sometimes have a particular fish-like shape that resembles jumping sardines. For example, here are blot panels from Figure 7A and 7B, with their contrast enhanced to bring out details. Although the bands are differently shaped, the background of these panels is more similar than expected. Colored panels draw attention to background areas that look unexpectedly similar. Could the authors provide the original, uncropped blots, please?  , 
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Retracted [5 January 2021] .  u2018Ailanthone exerts an antitumor function on the development of human lung cancer by upregulating microRNAu2010195u2019, by Shizhen Hou, Ziming Cheng, Wenling Wang, Xiangdong Wang, Yubing Wu, J Cell Biochem. 2019; 10444u201010451: The above article, published online on 19 December 2018 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between 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. Several flaws and inconsistencies between results presented and experimental methods described were found, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. The authors collaborated in the investigation initially, but were not available for a final confirmation of the retraction. , 
 Linyi Central Hospital [announced the results of an investigation] . Thanks to Google Translate for the translation. --------------------- In order to strengthen the integrity of scientific research, severely punish violations, and create a sound environment for scientific and technological innovation, the recent investigation and punishment of related papers are hereby notified as follows: 1. Linyi Central Hospital Hou Shizhen as the first author and Cheng Ziming as the corresponding author published the paper  Ailanthone exerts an antitumor function on the development of human lung cancer by upregulating microRNA-195 . It has been found that the paper has trading behavior and has not been submitted before submission. Obtain all authorsu2019 informed notifications in accordance with standard procedures. The relevant responsible personnel shall be dealt with as follows: - (1) To the first author Hou Shizhen: talk about scientific research integrity and instruct him to write a written inspection; the whole hospital notified him of criticism; canceled his participation in the 2020 annual evaluation, and the annual assessment must not be determined as an excellent ranking; canceled his scientific research within 6 years Projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans, etc. to declare qualifications; cancel their qualifications as nominees or recommenders, nominated or recommenders, and review experts within 6 years; suspend their graduate tutor application qualifications for 6 years; require them to contact within 30 days Magazine retracted; fined 5000 yuan. - (2) To the corresponding author, Cheng Ziming: talk about scientific research integrity and instruct him to write a written inspection; the whole hospital circulates criticism; cancels his participation in the 2020 annual evaluation, and the annual assessment shall not be determined as an excellent ranking; cancel his scientific research within 1 year Projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans, etc. to declare qualifications; cancel their qualifications as nominees or recommenders, nominees or recommenders, and review experts within one year; suspend their graduate tutor application qualifications for one year; require them to contact within 30 days The magazine retracted the manuscript. - (3) To other authors Wang Wenling, Wang Xiangdong, and Wu Yubing : talk about scientific research integrity and admonishment; write a deep inspection for this incident; report criticism in the hospital. ,