Retracted: Effects of astragalus polysaccharide on apoptosis of myocardial microvascular endothelial cells in rats undergoing hypoxia/reoxygenation by mediation of the PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway
Authors: Fei Teng
Qingling Zhou
Qiang Sun
Guowei Meng
Yongshan Zhang
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: LY294002; PI3K/Akt/eNOS; apoptosis; astragalus polysaccharide; cell cycle
Affiliations: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, P. R. China.

Abstract:  The study explores the effect of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) mediating P13K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway on apoptosis of myocardial microvascular endothelial cells (MMECs) in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R). MMECs were classified into blank, H/R, H/R + 25 mg/L APS, H/R + 50 mg/L APS, H/R + 100 mg/L APS, H/R + LY, and HR + 100 mg/L APS + LY groups. Cell viability was detected using MTT assay and apoptotic cell morphological changes by Hoechst staining. NO content, cell cycle and apoptosis, PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway proteins were detected using nitrate reductase assay, flow cytometry and Western blotting. An increased cell survival rate, NO content and expression of PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway associated proteins, and a decreased apoptosis rate was observed in the H/R + 50 mg/L APS and H/R + 100 mg/L APS groups compared with the H/R and H/R + 25 mg/L APS groups. Compared with the H/R + 50 mg/L APS group, the apoptosis rate decreased, whereas the cell survival rate, NO content and expression of PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway associated proteins increased in the H/R + 100 mg/L APS group. The H/R + LY and HR + 100 mg/L APS + LY groups followed opposite trends. In comparison to the HR + 100 mg/L APS group, the apoptosis rate in the H/R + LY and HR + 100 mg/L APS + LY groups increased, and the cell survival rate, NO content and expression of PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway associated proteins decreased. Collectively, APS improves the damage caused by H/P by mediating PI3K/Akt/eNOS signaling pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
  Figure 4 Cell apoptosis of MMECs detected by flow cytometry among the five groups Note: A, cell apoptosis of MMECs in each group detected using AnnexinV-FITC PI staining . ![file] I have color-coded the panels to mark the near-similarities to panels of Fig 8C in [An et all (2018)] , ![] ...and Fig 13(a) of [Song, Wang Huo (2019)] ... ![] ...and many other manifestations adduced in those threads. , 
 Fig 7.  Protein expression of PI3K AKT eNOS pathway related proteins in each group detected by western blot assay Note: A, detection of the levels of PI3K and p-PI3K in each group by western blotting...; B, detection of the levels of AKT and p-AKT by western blotting...; C, detection and statistical results of levels of eNOS and p-eNOS by western blotting . ![file] The stylised nature of the Western Blots in this paper are suggestive of a papermill provenance. Other examples are tabulated in a spreadsheet. https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1r0MyIYpagBc58BRF9c3luWNlCX8VUvUuPyYYXzxWvgY edit?usp=sharing The loading control of 7B is especially dispositive. ![file] See e.g. Fig 5B from [Wu et al (2018)] : ![] FIGURE 5B from [Wang et al (2018)] and 6A C from [Wen et al (2018)] : ![] , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . -------------------------- The above article, published online on 28 June 2017 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. A detailed investigation revealed that several image elements of the experimental data were published elsewhere in a different scientific contest. Thus, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. ,