Use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for the treatment of thin endometrium in experimental rats
Authors: Yanping Li
Jing Zhao
Tian Tian
Qiong Zhang
Yonggang Wang
Journal: PloS one (2013)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; G-CSF; stem cells; tissue repair; thin endometrium
Affiliations: Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.

Abstract:  Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) induces stem cells to mobilize to the injury site, which have beneficial effect on tissue repair. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of G-CSF on the thin endometrium in rat models. In the present study, rats with thin endometrium were divided into 4 groups (experimental group I: administrated with G-CSF (40 µg/kg/d) 4-6 hours post-modeling; control group I: administrated with saline 4-6 hours post-modeling; experimental group II: administrated with G-CSF (40 µg/kg/d) 12 days post-modeling; control group II: administrated with saline 12 days post-modeling. The agentia was given once daily and last for 5 days. Endometrial morphology was analyzed by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining, and the regeneration of endometrial cells was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western-blot with cytokeratin and vimentin. We found that endometrial thickness and morphology presented a significant difference between experimental groups and control groups. No matter when we start with G-CSF, there was a significantly thicker endometrium and stronger expression of cytokeratin/vimintin in the experimental groups compared with the control groups (P&lt;0.01). There were significant thicker endometrial lining and stronger expression of cytokeratin/vimintin in experimental group I than that of experimental group II (P&lt;0.05), but there was no difference in the endometrial lining and the expression of cytokeratin/vimintin between the two control groups (P&gt;0.05). In conclusion, G-CSF can promote the regeneration of endometrial cells in animal research, especially when the G-CSF was administrated earlier. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 2020 retraction. https: journals.plos.org plosone article?id=10.1371 journal.pone.0228462 After this article [1] was published, PLOS ONE was notified of similarities between lanes 1u20133 in the Vimentin, CK19, and u03b2-actin blots shown in Fig 3 of the PLOS ONE article, and panels in Fig 3A of a Fertility and Sterility article [2]. The western blot data represented results of different experiments in the two articles as detailed in the Methods sections. [1] and [2] were under review during overlapping periods, but the authors did not declare the related submission to the PLOS ONE Editors as is required by journal policy. Lanes 1u20133 of the Vimentin and u03b2-actin panels and lane 1, 4 of the CK19 panel in Fig 3 [1] are also similar to results reported in Fig 3A of [3] (later corrected in [4] to provide updated Figs 2u20134). The figures in these articles were used to represent results of different experiments, as detailed in the Methods sections. The authors commented that they had made an error in preparing Fig 3 for the PLOS ONE article, and provided images in support of the CK19 and Vimentin results. However, these files did not clarify the concerns about data reporting in Fig 3. The authors noted that the western blots were done by a colleague whose contributions were not indicated in the published article, and that the authors received the results in figure form but did not obtain the original raw blot images. The underlying data for the western blots and for other results reported in the article are not available. The authors apologized for the above issues and requested retraction of the PLOS ONE article, yet also commented that they are confident in the findings and stand by the published results. In light of the above concerns, the PLOS ONE Editors retract this article. Note, Fig 3 [1] reports material from [2], published earlier in 2013 [Elsevier, Inc. on behalf of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine], which is not offered under a CC-BY license. Fig 3 is therefore excluded from this articleu2019s [1] license. At the time of retraction, the article [1] was republished to note this exclusion in the Fig 3 legend and the articleu2019s copyright statement. JZ, TT, YL agreed with retraction. QZ, YW either could not be reached or did not respond directly. References 1.Zhao J, Tian T, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Li Y (2013) Use of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor for the Treatment of Thin Endometrium in Experimental Rats. PLoS ONE 8(12): e82375. https: doi.org 10.1371 journal.pone.0082375 pmid:24376532 2.Jing Z, Qiong Z, Yonggang W, Yanping L. (2014) Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells improve regeneration of thin endometrium in rat. Fertil Steril. 101(2):587u201394. (published online December 17, 2013) pmid:24355044 3.Zhao J, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Li Y. (2015) Uterine infusion with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells improves endometrium thickness in a rat model of thin endometrium. Reprod Sci. 22(2):181u20138. pmid:24947483 4.(2019) Uterine Infusion With Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Endometrium Thickness in a Rat Model of Thin Endometrium. Reprod Sci. 26(12):1666u20131667. pmid:30786816 ,