The protective effect of PPARγ in sepsis-induced acute lung injury via inhibiting PTEN/β-catenin pathway
Authors: Nana Qiao
Jie Yang
Junyi Chen
Lili Liu
Xiaofang Zhang
Yun Zhang
Xue Cui
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: PPARγ; PTEN/β-catenin pathway; acute lung injury; apoptosis; inflammation
Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, No. 107, West Wenhua Road, Jinan City 250012, Shandong Province, China., Department of Pathology, Shandong University of Medicine, No. 44, West Wenhua Road, Jinan City 250012, Shandong Province, China.

Abstract:  The present study aims to reveal the molecular mechanism of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) on sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI). To do that, the rat injury model was established using cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) method, followed by different treatments, and the rats were divided into Sham group, CLP group, CLP + rosiglitazone (PPARγ agonist) group, CLP + GW9662 (PPARγ inhibitor) group, CLP + bpV (phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) inhibitor) group, CLP + GW9662 + bpV group. Compared with Sham group, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPARγ were down-regulated, the inflammation levels were elevated, and the apoptosis was increased in CLP group. After treatment with rosiglitazone, the protein expression level of PPARγ was significantly up-regulated, the phosphorylation level of PTEN/β-catenin pathway was decreased, the PTEN/β-catenin pathway was inhibited, the lung injury, inflammation and apoptosis were reduced. The opposite effect was observed after treatment with GW9662. Besides, bpV inhibited PTEN/β-catenin pathway, and relieved the lung tissue injury. The overexpression of PPARγ reduced inflammatory response and inhibited apoptosis in sepsis-induced ALI. Furthermore, PPARγ relieved the sepsis-induced ALI by inhibiting the PTEN/β-catenin pathway. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper describes interviews with ten couples of children with signs of early puberty (Precocious Puberty, PP). The paper states:  The study received approval from the institutional ethics committee . It is not clear which institute gave this approval. The first author is associated with the  Felnett Health Research Foundation , an institution that does not appear to exist other than on the website(s) of the first author. The second author is associated with the Medical University of Lublin in Poland. Which institute approved this study, or did the author approve his own study? At the end of the paper it is stated:  The study received approval from the institutional ethics committee (No. 2017 25 AB72). Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this manuscript and any accompanying images. But there were no patients interviewed and no images published. The paper also states that the parents were in a relationship for 5.6 years (mean for married couples) or 3.4 years (mean for unmarried couples). Does that mean their children with PP were 2.5-5 years old? That seems ... unrealistic. The first author has a reputation as a fabulist: * https: gizmodo.com the-fake-sex-doctor-who-conned-the-media-into-publicizi-1832711205?IR=T * https: thisemotionallife.org blogs the-fantastical-world-of-damian-jacob-markiewicz-sendler Recently, one of his papers got retracted for issues with institutional ethics approval, i.e. DOI: 10.1080 0092623x.2018.1474405 - https: www.tandfonline.com doi full 10.1080 0092623X.2022.2052610 Can the authors please comment how ethical approval was obtained for this study? , 
  Existing literature consistently shows that the environment within certain parts of the world, like the United States, predisposes teenagers to experience puberty much earlier than children in Europe or Asia. *[Citation needed]* ,