Mitochondrial protein UCP1 mediates liver injury induced by LPS through EKR signaling pathway
Authors: G-J Shi
P Zhang
Z-Y Chen
P Liu
J Yang
Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (2017)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Mitochondria; liver injury; UCP1; ERK signaling pathway; ATP production
Affiliations: Department of Cadre Health Care, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Mitochondria are abundant in liver. The roles of mitochondrial protein in liver injury and related signaling pathways are still unclear. UCP1 is a novel mitochondrial transmembrane protein. Its expression pattern and function in liver still needs further investigation. Materials and methods: A mouse model of liver injury was established by the treatment of LPS. UCP1 expression in the liver tissue was detected by Western blot and qRT-PCR. ERK signaling activity was tested by enzymatic activity kit. ATP production was evaluated by flow cytometry. Cell apoptosis was determined by Western blot and flow cytometry. ERK signaling pathway inhibitor, U0126, was used to pre-treat mice. Liver tissue from sepsis patients was collected from the surgery. Results: Our data showed that the level of UCP1 was upregulated, ERK signaling was activated, ATP production was reduced, and cell apoptosis was enhanced in mice with liver injury model caused by LPS. U0126 intervention significantly suppressed UCP1 expression, inhibited ERK signaling pathway, enhanced ATP production, and restrained liver cell apoptosis in mice liver injury model. UCP1 increased, ERK signaling activated, and cell apoptosis elevated in the liver tissue of sepsis patients. Conclusions: UCP1 plays a role in the liver tissue of mouse liver injury model and sepsis patients through the modulation of mitochondrial ATP production and cell apoptosis by ERK signaling pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Please compare *[right]* Figure 1,  UCP1 expression in liver cells from mouse liver injury model. (A) qRT-PCR detection. (B) Western blot detection. (C) Western blot analysis with *[left*] Figure 1 from [Wang et al (2018)] .  OPA expression in bone marrow cells from osteoporosis mice. A, qRT-PCR detection. B, Western blot detection. C, Western blot analysis .  The two papers appear to be the same part from the replacement of UCP1 with OPA, of  liver injury caused by LPD with  osteoporosis induced by radiation , and  EKR signaling pathway with  P38 signaling pathway . , 
 Below: Figure 2.  ERK signaling activated, mitochondrial ATP production reduced, and cell apoptosis enhanced in liver injury mouse. (A) Western blot detection. (B) ATP production. (C) Cell apoptosis detection. Above: Figure 2 from Wang et al (2018).  P38 signaling is activated, mitochondrial ATP production is reduced, while cell apoptosis is enhanced in bone marrow cells from osteoporosis mice. A, Western blot detection. B, ATP production analysis. C, Cell apoptosis analysis .  Below: Figure 3.  The influence of ERK signaling pathway inhibitor U0126 pretreatment. (A) Western blot detection. (B) ATP production. (C) Cell apoptosis detection . Above: Figure 3 from Wang et al (2018).  The impact of P38 signaling inhibitor U0126 pretreatment. A, Western blot detection. B, ATP production analysis. C, Cell apoptosis analysis .  Below: Figure 4.  UCP1 expression and cell apoptosis in the liver tissue from sepsis patients. (A) Western blot detection. (B) ATP production. (C) Cell apoptosis detection. Above: Figure 4.  OPA and cell apoptosis detection in bone marrow from osteoporosis patients. A, Western blot detection. B, ATP production analysis. C, Cell apoptosis analysis .  , 
 This article has been withdrawn. The retraction notice can be found here: https: www.europeanreview.org article 21863 The journal writes:  *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, u201cMitochondrial protein UCP1 mediates liver injury induced by LPS through EKR signaling pathway, by P. Liu, J. Yang, Z.-Y. Chen, P. Zhang, G.-J. Shi, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2017; 21 (16): 3674-3679u2013PMID: 28925474u201d has been withdrawn. *  *The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. * In case the PDF will be removed by the journal (which might happen based on previous experience), the PDF was captured by the WayBackMachine, and can be found here: https: web.archive.org web 20180425043828 https: www.europeanreview.org wp wp-content uploads 3674-3679-Mitochondrial-protein-UCP1-mediates-liver-injury-induced-by-LPS-through-EKR-signaling-pathway.pdf , 
 #3 That didn t take long. Wished into the cornfield. ,