Role of microRNA-15a-5p in the atherosclerotic inflammatory response and arterial injury improvement of diabetic by targeting FASN
Authors: Yang Liu
Yan-Yan Sun
Ye Jia
Fu-Zhe Ma
Ling-Yun Liu
Journal: Bioscience Reports (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Arterial injury; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerotic inflammation; Diabetes; miR-15a-5p.
Affiliations: Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, P.R. China., Department of Andrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, P.R. China., Department of Nephrology, Jilin Province FAW General Hospital, Changchun 130000, Jilin, P.R. China., Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, Jilin, P.R. China .

Abstract:  The present study aims to investigate the mechanism of miR-15a-5p in the atherosclerotic (AS) inflammatory response and arterial injury improvement in diabetic rats by regulating fatty acid synthase (FASN). Initially, bioinformatics tools were applied to evaluate miRNAs and genes correlating with AS, and the target relation between miRNAs and FASN was measured using the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay. Subsequently the diabetic AS rat model was established and the surviving rats were divided into: negative control (NC), miR-15a-5p mimic, miR-15a-5p inhibitor, sh-FASN and miR-15a-5p + sh-FASN groups. Then a series of experiments were performed to examine the degree of AS in each group. The results revealed that compared with the NC group, the expressions of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) in rat arterial tissue, as well as the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), blood glucose (BG), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and Homocysteine (Hcy) in rat serum, were increased after inhibiting miR-15a-5p, while the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was decreased and the fat storage area was enlarged after this treatment (P&lt;0.05). In the miR-15a-5p mimic and sh-FASN groups, serum HDL-C levels were increased and the fat storage areas in arteries were reduced. The levels of CRP, IL-6, ICAM1 in rat arterial tissue, along with the levels of LDL-C, BG, TG, TC and Hcy in rat serum, were decreased (P&lt;0.05). Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed AS lesions to be apparent in the arteries of rats in both the NC and miR-15a-5p inhibitor groups, but that in miR-15a-5p and sh-FASN group were improved, the miR-15a-5p mimic + sh-FASN group showed the most obvious improvement. Taken together, miR-15a-5p alleviates the inflammation response and arterial injury in diabetic AS rats by targeting FASN. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Several bands in figure 3B show unexpected similarities. Could the authors please post original uncropped scans to reassure readers? *** Enhanced contrast ![file] *** Original ![file] , 
 March 31, 2021 The Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues surrounding the scientific validity of this paper, hence has issued an expression of concern to notify readers whilst the Editorial Office investigates. , 
 #1 Thanks for your attention, we had dedicated ourselves to COVID-19 response sometime ago, so we didn t notice and response the email promptly, we have contacted the editorial office and provided the original uncropped scans of Figure 3B. , 
 #3 Thank you for responding. Would it be possible for you to post those here too? , 
 #4 Thanks for your responding, we have tried to provided the original pictures here, but the file size is 13.2MB and can not be uploaded here. , 
 #5 Thank you. You may post a link here to an external site (such as Imgur.com or Google Drive) to provide readers access to larger original images. , 
 Retracted [24 August 2021] . ------------------------ This Retraction follows an Expression of Concern relating to this article previously published by Portland Press. This article is being retracted from Bioscience Reports at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board following receipt of a notification from a reader, alerting the Editorial Board to highly similar bands in the Western blots of Figure 3B. The authors were contacted regarding the concerns raised and provided the original scans of these Western blots, however given that the original scans show signs of manipulation, the Editorial Board stands by the decision to retract. The authors disagree to the Retraction. ,