The expression of overexpressed PTEN enhanced IR-induced apoptosis of myocardial cells
Authors: H-L Yi
Y-B Zhu
N Ding
Z-Q Li
Journal: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Myocardial cell apoptosis; Ischemia-reperfusion injury; PI3K/Akt signaling pathway; PTEN; Rat model
Affiliations: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery II, Beijing Children's ospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Myocardial cell apoptosis is an important pathologic basis of ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R). PI3K/Akt signaling pathway involves in cell growth, survival, and apoptosis regulation, thus playing an important role in the protection of I/R injury. PTEN is a negative regulatory factor of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study established rat I/R injury model after AMI and myocardial cell I/R injury model to explore the regulatory role of PTEN-PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in myocardial I/R injury in vivo and in vitro. Materials and methods: Rat myocardial I/R injury model was established. PTEN and p-Akt expressions in myocardial tissue were compared. H9C2 cells were incubated in I/R condition for 12 h, followed by reoxygenation for 12 h. H9C2 cells were divided into three groups, including I/R+pSicoR-Blank, I/R+pSicoR-PTEN, and I/R+pSicoR-PTEN+VO-Ohpic. PTEN, p-Akt, Bcl-2, and Bax expressions were detected. Cell apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Results: PTEN expression significantly increased, while p-Akt level markedly declined in myocardial tissue in I/R group compared with Sham group. Temporary PTEN downregulation and p-Akt elevation appeared at 2 h after I/R. I/R treatment markedly enhanced PTEN and Bax expressions, increased cell apoptosis, and reduced p-Akt and Bcl-2 levels. PTEN overexpression significantly enhanced Bax expression and cell apoptosis, while declined p-Akt and Bcl-2 in H9C2 after I/R. PTEN inhibited by VO-Ohpic markedly downregulated p-Akt and Bcl-2 expressions, whereas reduced Bax level and cell apoptosis. Conclusions: The overexpression of PTEN aggravated myocardial cell apoptosis after I/R. The blockage of PTEN enhanced PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and attenuated cell apoptosis induced by I/R. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This article has been withdrawn and the link to the PDF has been removed. The retraction notice can be found here: https: www.europeanreview.org article 21847 The journal writes:  *Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cThe expression of overexpressed PTEN enhanced IR-induced apoptosis of myocardial cells, by Y.-B. Zhu, N. Ding, H.-L. Yi, Z.-Q. Li, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23 (10): 4406-4413u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201905_17948u2013PMID: 31173315u201d has been withdrawn. *  *The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. * It is unfortunate, and not according to COPE guideline, that the journal has removed the PDF. Luckily, the PDF was captured by the WayBackMachine, and can be found here: https: web.archive.org web 20200213072711 https: www.europeanreview.org wp wp-content uploads 4406-4413.pdf , 
 This paper appears to be part of the Paper Mill #2, AKA the Paint It Black Paper Mill, described by Smut Clyde on Leonid Schneider s blog For Better Science: https: forbetterscience.com 2020 02 27 dark-satanic-papermills Here is Figure 2 as an illustration of the pitch black Western blots and particular shape of the flow cytometry plots. ![file] , 
 The publisher has restored the PDF (with a watermark), so kudos to them for that. ![file] One curious feature of this papermill is the frequent mismatches between the names of the putative corresponding authors, and the email addresses provided for correspondence. ![file] ,