Retracted : microRNA‚Ä?37 promotes endothelial progenitor cell proliferation and angiogenesis in cerebral ischemic stroke mice by targeting NR4A2 through the Notch pathway
Authors: Wei-Xin Yang
Wei Song
Jian Hua
Gang Wang
Xing-Li Liu
Liang Lyu
Journal: Journal of Cellular Physiology (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: NR4A2 gene; Notch signaling pathway; angiogenesis; cerebral ischemic stroke; endothelial progenitor cell
Affiliations: Department of Radiology, the First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, P.R. China., Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, P.R. China.

Abstract:  Cerebral ischemic stroke (CIS) is one of the common causes of death and disability worldwide. This study aims to investigate effect of miR-137 on endothelial progenitor cells and angiogenesis in CIS by targeting NR4A2 via the Notch pathway. Brain tissues were extracted from CIS and normal mice. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine positive rate of NR4A2 expression. Serum VEGF, Ang, HGF, and IŒ∫BŒ± levels were determined by ELISA. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to determine expression of related factors. Endothelial progenitor cells in CIS mice were treated and grouped into blank, NC, miR-137 mimic, miR-137 inhibitor, siRNA-NR4A2, and miR-137 inhibitor + siRNA-NR4A2 groups, and cells in normal mice into normal group. Proliferation and apoptosis were determined by MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. NR4A2 protein expression was strongly positive in CIS mice, which showed higher serum levels of VEGF, Ang, and HGF but lower IŒ∫BŒ± than normal mice. Compared with normal group, the rest groups (endothelial progenitor cells from CIS mice) showed decreased expressions of miR-137, Hes1, Hes5, and IŒ∫BŒ± but elevated NR4A2, Notch, Jagged1, Hey-2, VEGF, Ang, and HGF, inhibited proliferation and enhanced apoptosis. Compared with blank and NC groups, the miR-137 mimic and siRNA-NR4A2 groups exhibited increased expression of miR-137, Hes1, Hes5, and IŒ∫BŒ±, but decreased NR4A2, Notch, Jagged1, and Hey-2, with enhanced proliferation and attenuated apoptosis. The miR-137 inhibitor group reversed the conditions. miR-137 enhances the endothelial progenitor cell proliferation and angiogenesis in CIS mice by targeting NR4A2 through the Notch signaling pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 9A. Two of these flow-cytometry plots appear to be identical. Another two appear to display the same raw data, though fitted slightly differently.  Fig 10A. Unexpected partial resemblances within two pairs of these flow-cytometry apoptosis scatterplots.  , 
 Fig 7A.  The loading control is like an old friend. Other appearances include Figs 9A from [Y.-H. Wu et al (2018)] and 5C from [D.-M. Wu et al (2018)] . Above, 5A from [Lin et al (2018)] .  , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . ------------------- The above article, published online on 05 December 2017 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Gregg Fields, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. A detailed investigation revealed that several image elements of the experimental data were published elsewhere in a different scientific context. Thus, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. ,