Salidroside represses proliferation, migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells through AKT and MEK/ERK signal pathway
Authors: Wenjing Xu
Mei Ren
Tao Xu
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: AKT; ERK; Lung cancer; MEK; miR-195
Affiliations: Department of Oncology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China;, Department of Chinese Medicine, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China;, Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China

Abstract:  Salidroside, a glycoside of tyrosol, is isolated from Rhodiola rosea and shows anti-cancer functions in several cancers. However, the potentials of salidroside in the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the functions and mechanisms of salidroside in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Human NSCLC cell line A549 was treated with different doses of salidroside. Cell viability, colony formation, apoptosis, migration and invasion were detected by CCK-8, crystal violet-staining assay, flow cytometry and transwell assay, respectively. qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were performed to assess the regulatory effects of salidroside on miR-195 expression and the activation of AKT and the MEK/ERK signal pathway. We found that, salidroside remarkably reduced cell viability, colony formation and Cyclin D1 expression, but increased p21 expression and apoptosis in A549 cells. Additionally, salidroside inhibited the migration and invasion of A549 cells by regulating expressions of migration- and invasion-related proteins. Finally, salidroside inhibited phosphorylation of AKT, MEK and ERK by upregulating miR-195 expression in A549 cells. In conclusion, salidroside inhibited the survival, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells. Salidroside blocked AKT and the MEK/ERK signal pathway by upregulating miR-195 expression in A549 cells. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 2.  (A) Percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry. Surprisingly many cells are present in both distributions (more than  just a few coincidences is not good!). ![file] Here is a cancellation version (Control panel black white reversed and superimposed on the Salidroside panel to see how many points cancel out). ![file] , 
 Fig 2B. Could the authors comment on the identical background texture visible in every band when the contrast is increased? ![file] , 
 The same background texture is also visible in the bands of Fig 3B, 3D. ![file] I have not checked Figs 1, 4, 5. , 
 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 [6 April 2021] . ---------------------------------------- We, the Publisher and Editor of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, are issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article: Mei Ren, Wenjing Xu Tao Xu (2019) Salidroside represses proliferation, migration and invasion of human lung cancer cells through AKT and MEK ERK signal pathway. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47(1), 1014u20131021, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1584566 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. In particular, they were unable to provide full western blots, where the molecular weight markers are indicated. In addition, the authors did not have a record of the full blot, before cutting it into strips. 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. ,