Long non-coding RNA Mirt2 relieves lipopolysaccharide-induced injury in PC12 cells by suppressing miR-429
Authors: Xuerong Chen
Haibo Li
Huawei Ni
Yu Xu
Wenqing Liang
Guoxiu Wang
Journal: Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Apoptosis; Inflammation; Mirt2; Spinal cord injury; miR-429.
Affiliations: Department of Orthopaedics, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital of Zhejiang University), Shaoxing, 312000, China., Department of Orthopaedics, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen, 518055, China., Department of Orthopaedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, No.126 Wenzhou Road, Hangzhou, 310015, China. .

Abstract:  Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury (SCI). This study investigated the effects of lncRNA Mirt2 and miR-429 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced injuries in PC12 cells. Serum samples were collected from 36 patients with SCI and the healthy controls. The expression of lncRNA Mirt2 in serum samples was measured by qRT-PCR. The in vitro model of SCI was established by treating PC12 cells with LPS. The effects of lncRNA Mirt2 and miR-429 on the cell model were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, western blot, qRT-PCR, and ELISA. Further, the activation of NF-κB and p38MAPK pathways was tested by western blot. LPS induced obvious cell injuries in PC12 cells, as cell viability was reduced, apoptosis rate was increased, caspase-3 and -9 were cleaved, and the release of TNF-α and IL-6 was induced. lncRNA Mirt2 was up-regulated in LPS-stimulated PC12 cells and serum samples derived from SCI patients. Overexpression of lncRNA Mirt2 protected PC12 cells against LPS-induced injuries. Further studies found that lncRNA Mirt2 acted as the molecular sponge of miR-429 and miR-34a-5p. lncRNA Mirt2 did not protect PC12 cells when miR-429 was overexpressed. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of lncRNA Mirt2 on NF-κB and p38MAPK pathways were abolished when miR-429 was overexpressed. lncRNA Mirt2 exerts protective effects in an in vitro model of SCI by down-regulating miR-429. This study shed light on the treatment of SCI by using the lncRNA-miRNA regulation network. 

Retracted: No

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 , 
 Expression of Concern, [1 March 2021] . ---------------------- The Editors-in-Chief would like to alert readers that concerns have been raised regarding the data in this article [1]. The author did not provide raw data or details of ethics approval when requested. The corresponding author Huawei Ni contacted the journal to request article retraction but did not provide any explanation or reply to subsequent messages. The journal was also unable to contact the authors institutions. Readers are advised to interpret the details of this article with caution. The authors have not responded to any correspondence from the editors or publisher about this Editorial Expression of Concern. , 
 The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University reports the result of an investigation [(9 September 2021)](http: www.hz2y.com index.php index article details id 3659 pid 25.html). H t to Google Translate for the translation. -------------------- In order to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity, severely punish violations, and create a good environment for scientific and technological innovation, we hereby report the relevant papers and issues recently investigated by our unit as follows: Ni Huawei, a former employee of the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, is the corresponding author, and Li Haibo from Shaoxing People s Hospital is the first The authoru2019s paper  Long non-coding RNA Mirt2 relieves lipopolysaccharide-induced injury in PC12 cells by suppressing miR-429 published in 2019 was investigated and was commissioned by a third party to write, vote for and publish. The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University confirmed Relevant responsible personnel Ni Huawei made the following actions: 1. Give administrative warnings; 2. Integrity admonishment conversations and internal notifications and criticisms; 3. The results of the medical ethics evaluation of the year were assessed as poor; 4. The qualifications for various evaluations of the year were canceled; 5. u3001Delay for 3 years to be promoted to a first-level professional title; 6. Restrict application for various science and technology plan projects (special projects, funds) for 3 years; Cancel qualifications as nominees or recommenders, nominees or recommenders, review experts, etc. within 7 or 5 years; 8. Warning and sanctions within the party. Shaoxing City Peopleu2019s Hospital made the following actions for the relevant responsible personnel Li Haibo: (1) Scientific research integrity and admonition talk; (2) Announcement of criticism; (3) Administrative warning; Pre-qualification; (5) Terminate various related scientific research projects at the hospital level and above, and recover the allocated funding and surplus funds according to the original channels; (6) Cancel the application or application for science and technology plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), science and technology within 8 years Rewards, qualifications for the title of scientific and technological talents; (7) Postpone professional and technical post promotion application qualifications for 3 years; (8) Cancel qualifications as nominees or recommenders, nominees or recommenders, review experts, etc. within 5 years; (9) Cancel postgraduate tutor applications qualifications. (10) Warning and sanctions within the party. Ni Huawei has resigned and is not working in the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University. ,