Neferine inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of U251 glioma cells by down-regulation of miR-10b
Authors: Nai-Jie Liu
Li-Bo Sun
Hua-Xin Liang
Journal: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Glioma; Neferine; PTEN/PI3K/AKT; Proliferation; microRNA-10b
Affiliations: Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130033, China., Department of Neurosurgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130033, China. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. Panels from Figures 2A, 2C and 5D appear similar to the “Migrated cell” panels from Figure 2E and the panels “Migrated cell/mimic NC + pEX” and “Invasive cell/miR-122 mimic + pEX” from Figure 7D of the article that was previously published by Daliang Kong and Yang Wang in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 119 (2018) 1050-1061 https://doi.org/10.1002/jcb.26273. Also, panels from Figures 2A and 2C appear similar to the panels “sh-FOXM1” from Figure 5D and “sh-HULC” from Figure 2E of the article that was published by Qiu Hong Rui, Jian Bo Ma, Yu Feng Liao, Jin Hua Dai and Zhen Yu Cai in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 52(4) (2019) e7728 https://doi.org/10.1590/1414-431X20197728. Although this article was published earlier than the article from the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, the Editor decided to retract this article given concerns about the reliability of the data. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 If I may plagiarise [Elisabeth M. Bik] : *The Western blots and other figures in this paper have an interesting layout that appears to be shared with many other papers, as discussed in a January 2020 post on Leonid Schneider s blog: https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers * *The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing* *In almost all papers, Western blot panels within the same figure, and across figures and papers, appear to share the same background, while the bands are regularly spaced, all have similar rounded edges without the usual smudges and specks, and with some bands showing a recognizable  jumping sardine shape.* *Also in almost all papers, bar graphs show a characteristic layout with bars in solid shades of grey, and the left most bar in black, as well as double-edged error bars. Many papers have  cell viability and  apoptotic cells graphs.* *In some of these papers, including this one, flow cytometry plot show a unnaturally dense and well defined  hairball of events in Q3 with a few regularly spaced events in Q1 and Q2.* In this case the FACS apoptosis plots are Figs 1E and 4F. All five panels seem to involve the same central hairball in Q3, variously adorned with a stippling of additional cells points. ![file] Weirdly, the same central hairball motif appears in the FACS plots published in [Xue et al. (2019)] , despite the two teams sharing no authors in common and working at far-separated hospitals. ![] , 
 Along with Hoya Camphorifolia and Dr. Bick, I was struck by the similarity of the layout and appearance of the figures in this paper to a number of other papers. I also observed something quite curious. There appears to be repetition of the background in many (perhaps most) of the images, even when the gel bands do not necessarily appear to be duplicated. I looked at some of the figures long enough to get a headache and still kept finding more. In addition to hair balls in the FACS blots, there are proliferating creepy-crawlys in the background. I provide some examples and what appears to be a duplication in this gem. It would appear some enterprising souls figured out how to mass produce this sort of stuff. Or is this some sort of image artifact of which I am ignorant? ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] ![file] , 
 At left: Fig 2  (A) transwell assay was used to explore the effect of NEF on cell migration in **U251** cells; ... (C) transwell assay was used to explore the effect of NEF on cell invasion in **U251** cells . At right: Fig 2E (migration assay, transfected **OS-732** cells) from [Kong Wang (2018)] . ![file] Overlaps indicated. These are unrelated papers with no (nominal) authors in common. , 
 #3 Extended. Here are Figs 2A C, 5A D ... ![file] ..and Figs 2A C, 5C, 7D from [Kong Wang] . ![file] , 
 Comparing 2A C, 5A D ![] against 2D E, 5C D of [Rui et al (2019)] . ![] , 
  This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief.  Panels from Figures 2A, 2C and 5D appear similar to the u2018Migrated cellu2019 panels from Figure 2E and the panels u2018Migrated cell mimic NC + pEXu2019 and u2018Invasive cell miR-122 mimic + pEXu2019 from Figure 7D of the article that was previously published by Daliang Kong and Yang Wang in the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 119 (2018) 1050-1061 https: doi.org 10.1002 jcb.26273  Also, panels from Figures 2A and 2C appear similar to the panels u2018sh-FOXM1u2019 from Figure 5D and u2018sh-HULCu2019 from Figure 2E of the article that was published by Qiu Hong Rui, Jian Bo Ma, Yu Feng Liao, Jin Hua Dai and Zhen Yu Cai in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research 52(4) (2019) e7728 https: doi.org 10.1590 1414-431X20197728  Although this article was published earlier than the article from the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, the Editor decided to retract this article given concerns about the reliability of the data. --------------------------------------- Separate Retraction Note now published, dated [10 November 2021] . , 
 From the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People s Republic of China:  [Results of the investigation and handling of medical research integrity cases in some educational and medical institutions](http: www.most.gov.cn zxgz kycxjs kycxgzdt 202203 t20220318_179892.html) (March 17, 2022) . Thanks Google Translate. -------------------------------- u300020.  Neferine inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of U251 glioma cells by down-regulation of miR-10b , a paper by Liu Naijie as the corresponding author and Liang Huaxin as the first author from the Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital of Jilin University. After investigation, the paper has the behavior of buying and selling paper data. Liang Huaxin and Liu Naijie were dealt with as follows: Circulate criticism, cancel the application qualifications for scientific and technological projects (special projects, funds, etc.) for 5 years, cancel the qualifications for various awards and evaluations for 2 years, cancel the qualifications for valid declarations for positions and professional title promotions once, and deduct the positions Allowance for 12 months, prohibition from participating in postgraduate admissions qualification review for 1 year, revocation of Liang Huaxin s post as deputy chief physician, Liu Naijie s revocation of deputy chief physician and associate professor. u3000u3000(Notification link: http: jluxfjs.jlu.edu.cn content.jsp?urltype=news.NewsContentUrl wbtreeid=1021 wbnewsid=1453) ,