<i>Retracted</i> : DLX5 gene regulates the Notch signaling pathway to promote glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis in uremic rats
Authors: Xiao-Qing Lu
Bei-Hao Zhang
Xin-Fang Wang
Rui-Qiang Wang
Journal: Journal of Cellular Physiology (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: DLX5; Notch1 signaling pathway; gene silencing; glomerular sclerosis; kidney interstitial fibrosis
Affiliations: Department of Blood Purification The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou People's Republic of China, Department of Nephrology The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University Zhengzhou People's Republic of China

Abstract:  Uremia largely results from the accumulation of organic waste products normally cleared by the kidneys, which commonly accompanies kidney failure and chronic kidney disease. However, genetic investigations in a uremia remain largely unclear. This study aimed to determine the expression patterns of distal-less homeobox 5 (DLX5) in uremia rat model and further to study its effects on glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. Uremic expression chip was applied to screen differentially expressed genes in uremia. Next, we used small interfering RNA-mediated RNA interference to specifically silence DLX5 in experimental uremic rats to understand the regulatory mechanism of DLX5. To understand effect of Notch1 signaling pathway in uremia, we also treated experimental uremic rats with γ-secretase inhibitor (GSI), an inhibitor of Notch1 signaling pathway. The expression of fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Hes1, Hes5, and Jagged2 was determined. The semiquantitative assessment was applied to verify the effects of DLX5 on glomerulosclerosis. In the uremic expression chip, we found that DLX5 was upregulated in uremia samples, and considered to regulate the Notch signaling pathway. We found that small interfering RNA-mediated DLX5 inhibition or Notch1 signaling pathway inhibitory treatment relieved and delayed the kidney injury and glomerulosclerosis in uremia. Meanwhile, inhibition of DLX5 or Nothch1 signaling pathway reduced expression of FN, LN, Nothch1, TGF-β1, Hes1, Hes5, and Jagged2. Intriguingly, we discovered that Notch1 signaling pathway was inhibited after silencing DLX5. In conclusion, these findings highlight that DLX5 regulates Notch signaling, which may, in turn, promote complications of uremia such as kidney fibrosis, providing a novel therapeutic target for treating uremia. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 7a, 8c. ![file] Is it possible for the authors to upload or link to scans of the original blots for these curious stylised WBs? I ask because similar sausage-shaped images features in a number of papers that were retracted on account of a papermill provenance. I made a montage: ![] , 
 Retracted [8 March 2022] . --------------------- The above article, published online on 11 July 2019 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Gregg Fields, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed after the authors stated that unintentional errors occurred during the research process, and the experimental results cannot be verified. Thus, the conclusions are considered to be invalid. ,