Silence of MEG3 intensifies lipopolysaccharide-stimulated damage of human lung cells through modulating miR-4262
Authors: Zhigang Yang
Qianqian Zhang
Xiaoliang Li
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Acute lung injury; KLF4; MEG3; cell injury; lipopolysaccharide
Affiliations: a Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Henan Provincial People's Hospital , Zhengzhou , China.

Abstract:  Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious threat for health and lives worldwide. Recently, lncRNA MEG3 has been well studied to participate in lung cancer, making us speculate that it may be essential for ALI. ALI was simulated by treatment of LPS in human lung fibroblast WI-38 cells and human PMVECs. Cell viability, migration, apoptosis and MEG3 level were assessed by CCK-8, Transwell, flow cytometry/Western blot and qRT-PCR assays, respectively. Utilizing bioinformatics methods, luciferase activity assay and assessments of cell viability, migration and apoptosis, the possible interacted microRNA were explored. We found that, LPS induced decreases of cell viability, migration and MEG3 expression but promoted cell apoptosis. MEG3 knockdown aggravated LPS-induced injury of WI-38 cells and PMVECs. MEG3 acted as a sponge of miR-4262 and effects of MEG3 knockdown could be alleviated by miR-4262 inhibition. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was negatively regulated by miR-4262, and its overexpression ameliorated LPS-induced cell injury. LPS-induced alterations of key kinases in the PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways were reversed by KLF4 overexpression. In conclusion, MEG3 was down-regulated by LPS and its knockdown aggravated LPS-induced injury of human lung cells through miR-4262-mediated down-regulation of KLF4. The PI3K/AKT and JAK/STAT pathways were implicated. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This article is a falsification, where all the protein data presented as Western immunoblots are artificially made. This is seen by repetitive patterns in the Western immunblots (seen by adjusting the contrast). I have included just some examples from the article here. An updated list of the large number of affected articles in many different journals is presented here: https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers ![file] , 
 This paper belongs to a set of over 400 papers (as per February 2020) that share very similar Western blots with tadpole-like shaped bands, the same background pattern, and striking similarities in title structures, paper layout, bar graph design, and - in a subset - flow cytometry panels. Despite these similarities, these papers are authored by researchers from different departments and institutes, with almost no overlap in authors. The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing A more detailed description of this set of papers, suspected to all be generated by a common source, a paper mill , can be found here: * https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers (January 2020) * https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 02 21 the-tadpole-paper-mill (February 2020) The same paper mill has been described in these papers: * Jana Christopher - Systematic fabrication of scientific images revealed - FEBS Letters (2018) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13201 * Jennifer A Byrne and Jana Christopher - Digital magic, or the dark arts of the 21st centuryu2014how can journals and peer reviewers detect manuscripts and publications from paper mills? - FEBS Letters (2020) - https: febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi full 10.1002 1873-3468.13747 , 
 Expression of Concern [11 January 2021] . ------------------------------- We, the Publisher and Editor of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, are issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article: Xiaoliang Li, Qianqian Zhang Zhigang Yang (2019) Silence of MEG3 intensifies lipopolysaccharide-stimulated damage of human lung cells through modulating miR-4262. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47:1, 2369u20132378, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1623233 After publication of this article, questions about the scientific integrity of the article content were brought to the Publisher and Editoru2019s attention. We reached out to the authors requesting that they supply information that would confirm the articleu2019s integrity. The authors provided several files in response to our queries, but they were unable to provide the original data in a format which satisfies our requirements to confirm the authenticity of some types of data, including the western blots. Therefore, as we continue to work through the issues raised, we advise readers to interpret the information presented in the article with due caution. The authors have been notified about this Expression of Concern. , 
 Henan Provincial People s Hospital announced the results of an investigation, [26 September 2021] . Thanks to Google Translate for the translation. ----------------------- In order to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity, severely punish violations, and create a good environment for scientific and technological innovation, the relevant paper issues recently investigated and dealt with by this unit are hereby notified as follows. The paper  Silence of MEG3 intensifies lipopolysaccharide-stimulated damage of human lung cells through modulating miR-4262 published by Yang Zhigang of Henan Provincial People s Hospital as the corresponding author and Li Xiaoliang as the first author . After investigation, a third-party organization provided experimental pictures and experiments. Data (buying and selling data) . Henan Provincial People s Hospital, make the following decisions to the first author Li Xiaoliang: - u2460 Research Integrity admonishing him; - u2461 hospital public reprimand; - u2462 cancel Pingyoupingxian qualifications 5 years; - u2463 cancel or suspend the declaration postgraduate qualification tutor to recruit graduate students 5 years; - u2464 Cancel the qualifications for applying or applying for science and technology plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), science and technology awards, science and technology talent titles, and professional and technical post promotion for 5 years ; - u2465 Order the withdrawal of the papers involved, and prohibit all related applications of the papers. Make the following decisions of the corresponding author Yang Zhigang - u2460 Research Integrity admonishing him; - u2461 canceled that year Pingyoupingxian qualifications. Talk to other related authors such as Zhang Qianqian on scientific research integrity and admonitions. ,