RETRACTED ARTICLE: Long non-coding RNA SNHG16 reduces hydrogen peroxide-induced cell injury in PC-12 cells by up-regulating microRNA-423-5p
Authors: Qingsan Zhu
Haochuan Liu
Bing Chen
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: AMPK; ERK1/2; SNHG16; Spinal cord injury; microRNA-423-5p.
Affiliations: a Department of Orthopedics , China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China., b Department of Anesthesiology , China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University , Changchun , China.

Abstract:  Functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been widely probed in spinal cord injury (SCI). But, the influences of lncRNA-small nucleolar RNA host gene 16 (lncRNA-SNHG16) is still not well documented in SCI. The study explored the impacts of SNHG16 on H2O2-injured PC-12 cells. PC-12 cells were disposed with H2O2, cell viability, apoptosis, autophagy and ROS level were detected. RT-qPCR was executed to explore SNHG16 or miR-423-5p expression in H2O2-stimulated cells. After transfection with pc-SNHG16 or miR-423-5p inhibitor, the functions of SNHG16 and miR-423-5p in H2O2-injured cells were studied. AMPK and ERK1/2 pathways were finally assessed by western blot. We found that H2O2 evoked cell injury in PC-12 cells, and repressed SNHG16 was observed in H2O2-disposed cells. Overexpressed SNHG16 prominently alleviated H2O2-induced cell injury as indicated by repressing cell apoptosis, autophagy and ROS level. Additionally, SNGH16 enhanced miR-423-5p expression, and miR-423-5p inhibition abrogated the protective effect of SNGH16 on H2O2-injured PC-12 cells. SNGH16 mediated AMPK and ERK1/2 pathways via up-regulating miR-423-5p in H2O2-injured PC-12 cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that SNGH16 reduced H2O2-evoked cell injury by mediating miR-423-5p in PC-12 cells. The findings might uncover the effect of SNHG16 on SCI, which provide a new reference for remedying SCI. Highlights H2O2 evokes cell injury in PC-12 cells; SNHG16 reduces H2O2-induced cell injury in PC-12 cells; SNGH16 enhances miR-423-5p expression in H2O2-stimulated PC-12 cells; MiR-423-5p inhibition abrogates the protective effect of SNGH16 in PC-12 cells; SNGH16 mediates AMPK and ERK1/2 pathways by up-regulating miR-423-5p. 

Retracted: Yes

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 , 
 Retracted [22nd May 2020] .  Since publication, the authors noticed that an inappropriate cell line was used. As this error directly impacts the reported results and conclusions the authors alerted the issue to the Editor and Publisher and all have agreed to retract the article to ensure correction of the scholarly record. ![file] ![file] ,