lncRNA-ATB promotes viability, migration, and angiogenesis in human microvascular endothelial cells by sponging microRNA-195
Authors: Ai-Dong Zhu
Qiu-Ju Ma
Ying-Ying Sun
Fei Xu
Journal: Journal of cellular biochemistry (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: PI3K/AKT/MEK/ERK; angiogenesis; human microvascular endothelial cells-1; long noncoding RNA activated by tumor growth factor β; microRNA-195
Affiliations: Department of Vascular SurgeryJining No. 1 People's HospitalJining China, Affiliated Jining No.1 People's Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical UniversityJining China

Abstract:  The atherosclerosis in the arterial system of the extremities is considered as the major pathogenesis of peripheral arterial disease. The present work aimed to explore the potential role of long noncoding RNA activated by tumor growth factor-β (lncRNA-ATB) on the dysfunction of endothelial cells. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were transfected with lncRNA-ATB expressing vectors, and then the formation of tubes and expression of proteins associated with angiogenesis were analyzed using microscope and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR)/Western blot analysis. Cell viability, migration, and microRNA-195 (miR-195) expression were examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, modified Boyden chambers, Western blot analysis, and RT-qPCR. The interaction between lncRNA-ATB and miR-195 was determined by RT-qPCR, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and biotin-avidin pull-down assay. Finally, expression of key kinases in the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways was determined by Western blot analysis. We found vascular tubulogenesis was induced spontaneously when HMEC-1 cells were cultured in Matrigel-coated plates. lncRNA-ATB overexpression increased cell viability, migration and formation of tubes, along with upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor. Then, we found lncRNA-ATB worked as a molecular sponge for miR-195, and the effects of lncRNA-ATB on HMEC-1 cells were reversed by miR-195 overexpression while were augmented by miR-195 inhibition. Phosphorylated levels of key kinases in the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways were increased by lncRNA-ATB via miR-195. In conclusion, lncRNA-ATB enhanced cell viability, migration and angiogenesis in HMEC-1 cells through sponging miR-195. Moreover, the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathways were activated by lncRNA-ATB via miR-195. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Many of the Western immunoblots in this article seem to have the same background. Due to poor quality (low resolution) it is difficult to conclude, but in some cases some patterns are repeated: Figure 1D, Figure 2D and Figure 4D. ![file] , 
 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 [4 June 2021] . -------------------------- The above article, published online on 15 April 2019 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between the 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. ,