Retracted : Long noncoding RNA Alu‐mediated p21 transcriptional regulator promotes proliferation, migration, and pipe‐formation of human microvascular endothelial cells by sponging miR‐126
Authors: Chunqing Yang
Rong Feng
Jianying Gao
Aiping Song
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: Alu-mediated p21 transcriptional regulator (APTR); angiogenesis; miR-126.
Affiliations: Department of General Surgery, Juancheng People's Hospital, Heze, China., Department of Cardiac Vascular Surgery, Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, China., Department of Quality Control, Branch of Heze Municipal Hospital, Heze, China.

Abstract:  Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a serious hazard to the elderly in the lower extremity atherosclerotic plaque, accompanied by a large number of angiogenesis. Long noncoding RNA Alu-mediated p21 transcriptional regulator (APTR) exerts important functions in promoting cell growth. Therefore, we planned to research the mechanism of APTR in angiogenesis in PAD. CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry analysis, and migration assay were to detect cell viability, apoptosis, and migration respectively. The interaction between APTR and miR-12 was tested through luciferase activity test. In vitro angiogenesis assay was used to test the number of tubular cells. qRT-PCR and Western blot were to test expression of APTR, miR-126, and angiogenesis relative factors. There was spontaneously pipe-formation in HEMC-1 cells under matrigel condition. Knockdown of APTR inhibited cell viability and migration and reduced the number of tubular cells. Further, APTR sponged miR-126 and downregulating miR-126 to promote angiogenesis. Overexpression of APTR promoted cell activity and migration and increased the number of tubular cells via negatively regulating miR-126. APTR could elevate activating phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/protein kinase B and mitogen extracellular kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signal pathways via negatively regulating miR-126 to promote cell proliferation, migration, and pipe-formation. We researched the mechanism of angiogenesis that APTR elevated proliferation, migration, and pipe-formation via negatively regulating miR-126. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 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. To illustrate the recognizable layout of the graphs in this paper, here is a part of Figure 2. ![file] , 
 Retracted [8 June 2021] . -------------------------------------------------- The above article, published online on 16 July 2019 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between the 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. Several flaws and inconsistencies between results presented and experimental methods described were found, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. The authors collaborated in the investigation initially, but were not available for a final confirmation of the retraction. ,