RETRACTED ARTICLE: Transplantation of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Podocytes in a Mouse Model of Membranous Nephropathy Attenuates Proteinuria
Authors: Mehdi Alikhani
Zeinab Taghizadeh
Fatemeh Hadi
Nasser Aghdami
Reza Rahbarghazi
Seyed Mahdi Nassiri
Hossein Baharvand
Vahid Ezzatizadeh
Mohammad Hassan Asghari-Vostikolaee
Reza Moghadasali
Reza Salman Yazdi
Amin Ahmadi
Journal: Scientific Reports (2019)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: Podocytes; glomerular diseases; regenerative medicine; induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); proteinuria
Affiliations: Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran., Medical Genetics Department, Medical Laboratory Center, Royesh Medical Group, Tehran, Iran., Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran., Animal Core Facility, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran., Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran., Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran., Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran., Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. ., Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran. ., Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .

Abstract:  Injury to podocytes is a principle cause of initiation and progression of both immune and non-immune mediated glomerular diseases that result in proteinuria and decreased function of the kidney. Current advances in regenerative medicine shed light on the therapeutic potential of cell-based strategies for treatment of such disorders. Thus, there is hope that generation and transplantation of podocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), could potentially be used as a curative treatment for glomerulonephritis caused by podocytes injury and loss. Despite several reports on the generation of iPSC-derived podocytes, there are rare reports about successful use of these cells in animal models. In this study, we first generated a model of anti-podocyte antibody-induced heavy proteinuria that resembled human membranous nephropathy and was characterized by the presence of sub-epithelial immune deposits and podocytes loss. Thereafter, we showed that transplantation of functional iPSC-derived podocytes following podocytes depletion results in recruitment of iPSC-derived podocytes within the damaged glomerulus, and leads to attenuation of proteinuria and histological alterations. These results provided evidence that application of iPSCs-derived renal cells could be a possible therapeutic strategy to favorably influence glomerular diseases outcomes. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figures 3 and 4. * Aqua boxes: The day 10 PI H E panel in Figure 3 looks unexpectedly similar to the day 20 PI H E panel in Figure 4 (different time point) * Red boxes: The day 10 NT MT panel in Figure 3 looks unexpectedly similar to the day 60 PI MT panel in Figure 4 (different time point and different treatment group) ![file] , 
 Dear Dr. Bik, Thank you so much for your analysis of my articles! Currently, we are carefully checking each of your comments and concerns regarding  image concerns and undisclosed conflict of interest in some of my papers. We have also started to contact the related journals to ask for corrective notes on those articles that need correction or other potential actions. We will update, on Pubpeer, the final changes and actions communicated with the journals once we get feedback from the journals. Thank you again for your time and concern! Sincerely yours, Hossein Baharvand , 
 #1 Thank you for your concern. After communication with the editor and the publisher, they accepted our non-intentional human error and agreed with publishing a correction. , 
 2021 retraction. https: www.nature.com articles s41598-021-93174-z Published: 05 July 2021 Retraction Note: Transplantation of Mouse Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Podocytes in a Mouse Model of Membranous Nephropathy Attenuates Proteinuria Amin Ahmadi, Reza Moghadasali, Vahid Ezzatizadeh, Zeinab Taghizadeh, Seyed Mahdi Nassiri, Mohammad Hassan Asghari-Vostikolaee, Mehdi Alikhani, Fatemeh Hadi, Reza Rahbarghazi, Reza Salman Yazdi, Hossein Baharvand Nasser Aghdami Scientific Reports volume 11, Article number: 13831 (2021) Cite this article The Original Article was published on 29 October 2019 Retraction of: Scientific Reports https: doi.org 10.1038 s41598-019-51770-0, published online 29 October 2019 The authors have retracted this Article. After publication, the authors reported several irregularities in the histopathology images presented, specifically: Figure 3A: The H E PI panel looks identical to the PI H E (day 20) panel in Figure 4. Figure 3A: The MT NT panel looks identical to the PI MT (day 60) panel in Figure 4. Figure 4: The APNu2009+u2009PBS PAS (day 50) panel was edited to bring the glomeruli closer together. Amin Ahmadi, Vahid Ezzatizadeh, Mehdi Alikhani, Fatemeh Hadi, and Hossein Baharvand agree to this retraction. Seyed Mahdi Nassiri does not agree with this retraction. Reza Moghadasali, Zeinab Taghizadeh, Mohammad Hassan Asghari-Vostikolaee, Reza Rahbarghazi, Reza Salman Yazdi, and Nasser Aghdami did not response to correspondence relating to this retraction. , 
 Retraction of: Scientific Reports https: doi.org 10.1038 s41598-019-51770-0, published online 29 October 2019 The authors have retracted this Article. After publication, the authors reported several irregularities in the histopathology images presented, specifically: Figure 3A: The H E PI panel looks identical to the PI H E (day 20) panel in Figure 4. Figure 3A: The MT NT panel looks identical to the PI MT (day 60) panel in Figure 4. Figure 4: The APNu2009+u2009PBS PAS (day 50) panel was edited to bring the glomeruli closer together. ,