Retracted : MicroRNA‐106b overexpression alleviates inflammation injury of cardiac endothelial cells by targeting BLNK via the NF‐κB signaling pathway
Authors: Zhe An
Guang Yang
Dan Wang
Wei Nie
Jin Ren
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: BLNK; NF-κb signaling pathway; endothelial cells; inflammation injury; microRNA-106b.
Affiliations: Department of Cardiology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China., Department of Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China., Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China., Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China.

Abstract:  We aim to investigate whether microRNA-106b (miR-106b) affects the inflammation injury of cardiac endothelial cells (ECs) by targeting B-cell linker (BLNK) via the NF-κB signaling pathway. Human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs) were assigned into the control, hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), negative control (NC), pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), miR-106b mimic, miR-106b inhibitor, and si-BLNK, and miR-106b inhibitor+si-BLNK groups. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were conducted for miR-106b expression and expressions of BLNK, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, NF-κB, pIκBα, BTK, and PLC-γ2. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied for levels of IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α; cell counting Kit-8 assay for cell proliferation; and flow cytometry for cell cycle and ensuing apoptosis. In-vitro tube formation assay was performed for tube formation ability. Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that BLNK was verified as the target gene of miR-106b. Compared with the H/R and NC groups, the PDTC, miR-106b mimic, and si-BLNK groups had declined expressions of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, BTK, PLC-γ2, NF-κB p105/p50, and pIκBα as well as levels of L-6 and TNF-α, but contrarily elevated levels of NF-κB p105/p50 and IL-10. The PDTC, miR-106b mimic, and si-BLNK groups had less cell number in G0 /G1 phase but higher cell count in both S and G2 phases, decreased cell apoptosis but increased proliferation and tube formation ability, while opposite trends were observed in the miR-106b inhibitor group. Our findings indicated that the overexpression of miR-106b alleviated the inflammation injury of cardiac ECs by targeting BLNK via the NF-κB signaling pathway. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 8C.  Cell cycle distributions and apoptosis of HCMECs in each group detected by flow cytometry. ... C, The picture of apoptosis expression . ![file] Colored boxes indicate panels that match the panels in apoptosis flow-cytometry Figures from a number of independent papers. Here, Fig 7C from [Wen et al (2017)] : ![] Fig 6A C from [Wen et al (2017)] : ![] , 
 Fig 8A.  A, Cell cycle picture (The red peak stands for G0 G1 phase, the twill represents S phase, and the red low peak represents G2 M phase). Black lines seem to indicate the raw-data cell-count histogram, and also the sums of G0 G1, S, and G2 M peaks that best approximate the raw data. I cannot help wondering why the solid line in the PDTC sample seems to be balancing on top of the G0 G1 peak like a thimble on an upraised index finger. ![file] , 
 [At right] Fig 5B from [An et al (2018)] .  The protein expressions of BLNK, IL-6, IL-1u03b2, TNF-u03b1, pBTK, pPLC-u03b32, nuclear and cytosolic NF-u03baB p105 p50 and cytosolic pIu03baBu03b1 in each group after cell transfection. ... B, Protein expressions of BLNK, IL-6, IL-1u03b2, TNF-u03b1, pBTK and pPLC-u03b32. [At left] Fig 8C from [Long et al (2018)] . ![file] , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . ------------------------------ The above article, published online on 16 November 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 context. Thus, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. ,