Retracted : Expression of nestin in embryonic tissues and its effects on clinicopathological characteristics of patients with placenta previa
Authors: Yan-Yan Qiao
Ping Chu
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: embryonic development; embryonic tissues; nestin; placenta previa.
Affiliations: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining, China., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Jining, China.

Abstract:  In this study, we examined expression of nestin in the spinal cord, lung, kidney, stomach, colon, and intestine tissues at different stages of embryos in patients with placenta previa. Fetuses of 75 patients with placenta previa were assigned to case group and 80 fetuses from healthy pregnant women with normal placenta who voluntarily terminated pregnancy to control group. Clinical data of pregnant women were collected at the time of admission. Blood from elbow vein was collected to determine expression of serum nestin. Tissues from spinal cord, lung, kidney, stomach, colon, and intestine in 3-7 months fetuses of the two groups were extracted. Expression of nestin in tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-qPCR. The mRNA expression of nestin in the case group was increased. Nestin expression was correlated with the gestational age, age of foetus, and type of placenta previa in patients with placenta previa. Positive nestin expression was detected in the spinal cord, lung, kidney, stomach, intestine, and colon tissues in normal and placenta previa embryo at Stage I. The positive cell density and nestin expression decreased at Stage II, and further decreased at Stage III. The case group had higher nestin mRNA and protein levels throughout human fetal development. Findings of this study suggested that, nestin, as a specific marker of neural precursor cells, was expressed in various tissues of the embryo in patients with placenta previa and nestin expression was lower with increased maturation of the embryo. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 - Fig. 1  Immunohistochemical staining, mRNA and protein expression of nestin in human fetal spinal cord tissues at three development stages (I, II, III).... B: protein bands of nestin in human fetal **spinal cord** tissues at different stages detected by western blotting . - Fig. 2  B: protein bands of nestin in human fetal **lung** at different stages detected by western blotting . - Fig. 3  B: protein bands of nestin in human fetal **kidney** tissues at different stages detected by western blotting . - Fig. 4  B: protein bands of nestin in human fetal **stomach** at different stages detected by western blotting . - Fig. 5  B: protein bands of nestin in human fetal **colon** at different stages detected by western blotting . - Fig. 6  B: protein bands of nestin in human fetal **intestine** at different stages detected by western blotting . ![file] Each panel B purportedly presents three bands of nestin, necessarily from different blots, with a single loading control. This makes no sense. The control bands appear to be composite in nature, as a single distinctive protein blob (distinguished by the bubble underneath it) features in four of these bands, each time with a different partner. All the protein blobs (including the  bubble ) appear over and over within an oeuvre, recorded in a spreadsheet: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1r0MyIYpagBc58BRF9c3luWNlCX8VUvUuPyYYXzxWvgY edit?usp=sharing. They seem to come from the same restricted gamut shown in this montage: ![] , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . --------------------------------- The above article, published online on 18 August 2017 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. 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. ,