Resveratrol protects against apoptosis induced by interleukin-1β in nucleus pulposus cells via activating mTOR/caspase-3 and GSK-3β/caspase-3 pathways
Authors: Wenyuan Ding
Sidong Yang
Xiaohui Guo
Feng Zhang
Xiaoliang Bai
Long Zheng
Journal: Bioscience reports (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Apoptosis; Interleukin-1; Intervertebral disc; Nucleus pulposus cells; Resveratrol.
Affiliations: Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, P.R. China, Department of Spinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tangshan, Tangshan 063000, P.R. China, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, P.R. China, Hebei Key Laboratory of Experimental Animal Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, P.R. China

Abstract:  Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the specific downstream signaling pathway mediated by PI3K/Akt in resveratrol (RES) anti-apoptosis of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). Materials and methods: Human NPCs were cultured and divided into six groups. Interleukin (IL)-1β was used to induce apoptosis and RES to inhibit apoptosis. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis was used to test apoptotic incidence of NPCs, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to detect cell viability, The expression level of caspase-3 mRNA was detected by RT-qPCR, and protein levels were determined by Western blot. Results: Flow cytometry analysis showed that IL-1β increased the apoptosis rate of NPCs in each group, and RES significantly decreased the apoptosis rate, while rapamycin (RAPA) and SB216763 inhibited the effect of RES and increased the apoptosis rate again. Similarly, CCK-8 showed that IL-1β decreased activity of NPCs in each group, while RES increased cell activity, RAPA and SB216763 inhibited the effect of RES and decreased cell activity. RT-qPCR results showed IL-1β significantly increased the level of caspase-3 expression, but it was significantly decreased by using RES, RAPA and SB216763 respectively attenuated effects of RES. Western blot results showed that activated caspase-3 was inhibited by RES effect, and was up-regulated again after the addition of RAPA and SB216763. In addition, p-mTOR and p-GSK-3β were up-regulated by RES and down-regulated by RAPA and SB216763. Conclusion: RES can inhibit apoptosis induced by IL-1β in human NPCs. PI3K/Akt/mTOR/caspase-3 and PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/caspase-3 pathways are potential mechanisms underlying this process. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The plots in figure 1 unexpectedly appear to share some common features. Perhaps if the authors could provide a higher resolution image this concern could be addressed. *** ![file] *** ![file] , 
 #1 Dear Sir Madam, Thanks for your comment. I will start the investigation regarding your concerns. In fact, I have read the manuscript before it s submitted and I didn t find any problems within it. Such a problem in Fig 1 was really difficult to identify for me during my check. Anyway, I will try to give you a feedback next week. , 
 #2 Dr. Ding, it does not surprise me that you read the manuscript before submitting, given you are one of the authors. However, as I said, a higher resolution image may be posted here (or elsewhere, with a link here) to address my concern. Looking forward to your reply next week. , 
 2020 retraction. https: portlandpress.com bioscirep article 40 8 BSR-20202019_RET 226121 Retraction-Resveratrol-protects-against-apoptosis This article is being retracted from Bioscience Reports at the request of the authors following receipt of a notification from a reader, alerting the authors to common features in the FACS plots of Figure 1. The authors have been unable to replicate the results, hence felt it was necessary to retract the paper. The Editorial Board agrees to the retraction. , 
 #2 Would the authors be willing to share the source for the FACS plots in question? There have been other discussions with authors here on PubPeer that suggest similar problems were encountered when third parties prepared and delivered some of the results via email, but later those third parties would not respond to the authoru2019s questions. Is that similar to what occurred here? We appreciate in advance your assistance in understanding what happened. ,