Retracted : Baicalein retards proliferation and collagen deposition by activating p38MAPK‐JNK via microRNA‐29
Authors: Xiaoliang Yang
Yinghao Li
Jinjie Jiang
Chunyan Zhang
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: baicalein; collagen; microRNA-29; proliferation.
Affiliations: Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery Qingdao Central Hospital (The Affiliated Central Hospital of Qingdao University) Qingdao China, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Qingdao Central Hospital (The Affiliated Central Hospital of Qingdao University) Qingdao China

Abstract:  Immoderate proliferation and deposition of collagen generally result in hypertrophic scars and even keloids. microRNA-29 (miR-29) has been proved as a crucial regulator in these pathological processes. Although mounting evidence have proved baicalein (BAI) impairs scar formation, it is still incompletely understood whether miR-29 participated in the underlying mechanism. In the present study, NIH-3T3 cells were stimulated with BAI, and then cell viability was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Western blot. We further analyzed total soluble collagen, collagen 1, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in NIH-3T3 cells, which were exposed to transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)/BAI, using a Sircol assay kit, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Besides, the miR-29 inhibitor was transduced and its transfection efficiency was verified by qRT-PCR. Finally, the phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were examined by Western blot. BAI effectively retarded NIH-3T3 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, TGF-β1-induced deposition of total soluble collagen and synthesis of collagen 1 and α-SMA were repressed by BAI at mRNA and protein levels. However, miR-29 inhibitor reversed the effects of BAI. Remarkably, BAI promoted phosphorylated expression of p38MAPK and JNK while miR-29 inhibitor reversed its effects on the phosphorylated expression of p38MAPK and JNK. BAI effectively weakened the cell viability and repressed TGF-β1-induced total soluble collagen as well as collagen 1 and α-SMA by upregulating miR-29. Mechanically, BAI activates the p38MAPK/JNK pathway by promoting miR-29. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The Western blots in this paper have an interesting layout that appears to be shared with other papers, such as these papers, all 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 * Ning Han et al. 2019, DOI: 10.1002 jcb.29638 Western blot panels within the same figure, or even across figures and papers, appear to share backgrounds, while the bands are regularly spaced, all have similar rounded edges, without the usual smudges and specks. Here is, for example figure 4C. Note the diagonal stripes in the background on the right of all five panels. ![file] Could the authors provide the original 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 [22 April 2021] . ------------------------------------------------- Retraction:  Baicalein retards proliferation and collagen deposition by activating p38MAPK-JNK via microRNA-29, by Xiaoliang Yang, Chunyan Zhang, Jinjie Jiang, Yinghao Li, J Cell Biochem. 2019:15625-15634. The above article, published online on May 12, 2019, 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. , 
 The National Medical Commission of the PRC announced the reports of an investigation, on [30 September 2021](http: www.nhc.gov.cn cms-search xxgk getManuscriptXxgk.htm?id=bdeb7e0443ff4a95bc46a8621606ab97). Thanks Google Translate for translation. ---------------------------- 12. The paper  Baicaleinretards proliferation and collagen deposition by activating p38MAPK - JNK via microRNA - 29  published by Li Yinghao from Qingdao Central Hospital in Shandong Province as the corresponding author and Yang Xiaoliang as the first author . After investigation, there are academics that tamper with experimental data. Misconduct. The relevant responsible persons shall be dealt with as follows: - 1. To the corresponding author Li Yinghao: talk about scientific research integrity admonitions; publicly report criticism in the hospital; recover article awards and ask him to take the initiative to withdraw articles from the magazine; cancel his five-year application for scientific research projects, scientific and technological awards, scientific and technological talent titles and qualifications for promotion . - 2. To the first author Yang Xiaoliang: talk about scientific research integrity and admonition; publicly report criticism in the hospital; cancel his five-year application for scientific research projects, scientific and technological awards, scientific and technological talent titles and qualifications for promotion. - 3. To the second author Zhang Chunyan and the third author Jiang Jinjie: talk about scientific research integrity and admonition; publicly report criticism in the hospital; cancel his two-year application for scientific research projects, scientific and technological awards, scientific and technological talent titles and qualifications for promotion. (Notification link: https: www.qdzxyy.com xxdetail.aspx?id=2886 typeid=88 ) ,