Upregulated microRNA‐485 suppresses apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in mice with lupus nephritis via regulating the TGF‐β‐MAPK signaling pathway by inhibiting RhoA expression
Authors: Hong-Tao Jin
Li-Yan Ma
Yu-Xiang Han
Yu Tian
Shi-Wei Bo
Chao Sun
Xuan Qi
Hui-Fang Guo
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: RhoA gene; TGF-β-MAPK signaling pathway; cell apoptosis; cell viability; lupus nephritis
Affiliations: Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China., Department of Medical Radiology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.

Abstract:  Lupus nephritis (LN) is a common and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Without intervention, LN may cause acute kidney injury and end-stage renal disease. This study aims to determine whether microRNA-485 (miR-485) affects renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) in LN mice via the TGF-β-MAPK signaling pathway by targeting RhoA. Renal tissue samples were initially extracted from 15 LN and 15 normal mice. RTECs were cultivated in vitro and grouped after transfection of different mimics, inhibitors, or siRNA- RhoA. The target gene of miR-485 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Flow cytometry and MTT assay were applied to detect cell viability and apoptosis. It was determined that RhoA was a target gene of miR-485. We found that urine protein, creatinine, RhoA, interleukin 6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) were highly expressed in renal tissues of LN mice, while poor levels of miR-485 were recorded. The overexpression of miR-485 or siRNA- RhoA or the combination of miR-485 and siRNA- RhoA was demonstrated to lead to a reduction of levels of RhoA, IL-6, TGF-β, and p38MAPK, as well as a promotion of RTECs proliferation and inhibition of RTECs apoptosis. Taken together, these findings indicated that overexpressed miR-485 downregulates RhoA which could promote cell viability and inhibit apoptosis of RTECs by regulating the RhoA-mediated TGF-β-MAPK signaling pathway in LN mice. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 4B.  Western blot analysis demonstrates that miRu2010485 reduces the protein expressions of RhoA, ILu20106, TGFu2010u03b2, and p38MAPKs as well as the extent of pu2010p38MAPK . At right, for comparison, Fig 7C from [Han et al (2018)] . ![file] The same loading control has somehow appeared in both papers, though as GAPDH and beta-actin. The protein blobs in both papers seem to come from the same restricted gamut shown in this montage: ![] , 
 Retracted [19 July 2021] . ---------------------------------------------- The above article, published online on 26 August 2018 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Christian Behl, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. A detailed investigation revealed that several image elements of the experimental data were published elsewhere in a different scientific context. Thus, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. , 
 #2 Thanks so much for your comments. We are very sorry that we havenu2019t been able to reply because we havenu2019t logged in the E-mail these days. Yesterday our team was informed that the article  Upregulated microRNA-485 suppresses apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in mice with lupus nephritis via regulating the TGF-u03b2-MAPK signaling pathway by inhibiting RhoA expression was retracted because the experiment conclusion was unreliable. Our team is collating our experimental data. With your permission, we will provide the original data and pictures recently , 
 #2 Thanks so much for your comments. We are very sorry that we havenu2019t been able to reply because we havenu2019t logged in the E-mail these days. Yesterday our team was informed that the article  Upregulated microRNA-485 suppresses apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in mice with lupus nephritis via regulating the TGF-u03b2-MAPK signaling pathway by inhibiting RhoA expression was retracted because the experiment conclusion was unreliable. Our team is collating our experimental data. We will provide the original data and pictures recently. We are connecting with the chief editor of the journal. ,