LINC00305 represses miR-124 expression to trigger inflammatory insults in the presence of lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Daxue Zhang
Manqiu Yu
Liang Han
Guannan Zhou
Lei Chen
Xiaoyan Li
Taitao Sun
Qiang Zhao
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: LINC00305; inflammation; microRNA-124; osteoarthritis.
Affiliations: Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, China;, Department of Trauma Reconstruction, Shandong Wendeng Orthopaedic & Traumatic Hospital Weihai, China;, Emergency Department, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China;, Department of Orthopaedics, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China;, Department of Orthopaedics, Affiliated Jining No.1 People's Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, Jining, China

Abstract:  Background: The anti-inflammatory function of microRNA-124 (miR-124) has been a matter of extensive studies in the last few years. Although LINC00305 regulates biological activities by acting as a miR sponge, it is still unexplored whether LINC00305 is involved in inflammation by regulating miR-124. Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated with commercial kits, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) kit, respectively. LINC00305, miR-124 and mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Protein level was assessed with Western blot assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The expression of LINC00305 was up-regulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LINC00305 overexpression further suppressed the cell viability, promoted apoptosis and induced inflammation in LPS-treated ATDC5 cells while its silence enhanced the cell viability, inhibited apoptosis and ameliorated inflammation. miR-124 was negatively regulated by LINC00305 and its overexpression abolished the effects of LINC00305 in the presence of LPS. LINC00305 further triggered the Notch/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway in LPS-treated ATDC5 cells and this activation was abrogated when ATDC5 cells overexpressed miR-124. Conclusion: LINC00305 might emerge as a novel suppressor for miR-124. LINC00305-caused miR-124 silence compromises ATDC5 cell viability and ultimately results in inflammatory insults by activating Notch/NF-κB pathway. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 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 ofu202f Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, are issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article: Xiaoyan Li, Manqiu Yu, Liang Han, Lei Chen, Daxue Zhang, Guannan Zhou, Qiang Zhao Taitao Sun (2019) LINC00305 represses miR-124 expression to trigger inflammatory insults in the presence of lipopolysaccharide. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47:1, 2352-2360, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1624559 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. 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. , 
 An investigation by Jining First People s Hospital (the authors institution), released 29 December 2021, calls for retraction. Can the journal editors confirm that they received a request to depublish the paper? https: www.jnrmyy.com keyan kxyj gonggao 2021 1229 6607.html ---------------- 14. The paper  LINC00305 represses miR-124 expression to trigger inflammatory insults in the presence of a paper published by Sun Taitao of our hospital as the corresponding author, Li Xiaoyan of the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College as the first author, and Yu Manqiu of Wendeng Orthopaedic Hospital as the co-first author of lipopolysaccharide , after investigation, it is an academic misconduct of tampering with data and fabricating the research process. Our hospital will deal with the relevant responsible persons as follows: Sun Taitao (corresponding author, combined with another paper): cancel the application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans within 6 years; cancel 6 years as nomination or recommendation Qualifications such as persons, nominees or recommenders, review experts, etc.; cancel the membership or membership of academic institutions such as societies, associations, etc.; cancel the higher-level professional and technical positions that have been obtained; postpone promotion to higher-level majors for 3 years Technical position; instructed to contact the magazine as soon as possible to withdraw the manuscript; warning within the party. Zhao Qiang (participating author, merged with another paper): Cancellation of application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans within 5 years; cancellation of 5 years as a nominee or recommender, nominee or recommender, evaluation expert and other qualifications; cancel the membership or membership of academic institutions such as societies and associations that they have obtained; postpone promotion to a higher-level professional and technical position for one year; order to contact the magazine as soon as possible to withdraw the manuscript; administrative warning. Zhou Guannan (participating author): The scientific research integrity admonishment talk; the hospital notified the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College to deal with the relevant responsible persons as follows: Li Xiaoyan (first author): ordered him to make an in-depth inspection; cancel the five-year application for science and technology plan projects (special , funds, etc.) qualifications for scientific and technological awards, scientific and technological talent titles, etc., from December 12, 2020 to December 11, 2025; cancellation of five-year graduate tutor application and appointment qualifications from December 12, 2020 Until December 11, 2025; the three-year professional title promotion qualification will be cancelled, from December 12, 2020 to December 11, 2023; criticism will be circulated in the hospital. Han Liang, Chen Lei, Zhang University (participating authors): Criticism was circulated in the hospital. Wendeng Orthopaedic Hospital treated Man Qiu (tied as the first author) as follows: prohibiting the use of this article to declare academic activities such as scientific research and awards; reporting criticism and ordering him to make an in-depth review. ,