Circular RNA circDENND2A protects H9c2 cells from oxygen glucose deprivation-induced apoptosis through sponging microRNA-34a
Authors: Peng Zhong
Yuanxia Shao
Li Sheng
Hongjian Zheng
Journal: Cell Cycle (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Myocardial ischemia; apoptosis; circDENND2A; miR-34a; migration
Affiliations: Department of Cardiology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, China

Abstract:  Background/Aims: Myocardial ischemia (MI) is a serious threat to human health. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play an important role in many diseases including MI. The effect and mechanism of circDENND2A in MI have not been studied.Methods: We used oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) treatment to simulate MI in vitro. We detected circDENND2A and microRNA (miR)-34a levels by RT-qPCR. The transfection process used INTERFER and jetPRIME. Cell growth indexes including viability, apoptosis, and migration were detected by CCK8, flow cytometry, and transwell assays, respectively. In addition, the Bax, Cleaved-Caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and pathway-related protein levels were tested by Western blot.Results: OGD upregulated circDENND2A expression in H9c2 cells. Overexpression of circDENND2A enhanced cell viability and migration but declined apoptosis under OGD. Silenced circDENND 2A played the opposite effects. circDENND2A negatively regulated miR-34a. miR-34a overexpression weakened the protective effects of circDENND2A in OGD-injury. Moreover, we considered circDENND2A and miR-34a may work via β-catenin and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways.Conclusion: circDENND2A overexpression enhanced OGD-inhibited cell viability and migration but declined OGD-promoted apoptosis by downregulating miR-34a and via β-catenin and Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathways. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The Western blots and other figures in this paper have an interesting layout that appears to be shared with many other papers, as discussed in a January 2020 post on Leonid Schneider s blog: https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing In almost all papers, Western blot panels within the same figure, and across figures and papers, appear to share the same background, while the bands are regularly spaced, all have similar rounded edges without the usual smudges and specks, and with some bands showing a recognizable  jumping sardine shape. Also in almost all papers, bar graphs show a characteristic layout with bars in solid shades of grey, and the left-most bar in black, as well as double-edged error bars. Many papers have  cell viability and  apoptotic cells graphs. To illustrate the recognizable layout of the graphs in this paper, here is Figure 3. ![file] , 
 Retracted [11 October 2021] . ------------------- We, the Publisher and Editor of Cell Cycle, have retracted the following article: Yuanxia Shao, Peng Zhong, Li Sheng Hongjian Zheng (2020) Circular RNA circDENND2A protects H9c2 cells from oxygen glucose deprivation-induced apoptosis through sponging microRNA-34a, Cell Cycle, 19:2, 246-255, DOI: 10.1080 15384101.2019.1708029 Since publication, concerns have been raised about the integrity of the data in the article. In addition, a concern was raised about lack of institutional ethical approval related to obtaining blood from human participants, which is part of the research reported in this article. We have reached out to the authors requesting that they supply information to support the integrity of the data, and to confirm that institutional ethical approval was obtained. However, the authors have not responded to our queries within the requested timeframe. As confirming adherence to research ethics standards as well as reliability of data are core to the integrity of published work, the Editor and Publisher have agreed to retract the article. The corresponding author listed in this publication has been informed. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u2018Retractedu2019. ,