Effects of scutellarin on MUC5AC mucin production induced by human neutrophil elastase or interleukin 13 on airway epithelial cells
Authors: Juliy M Perelman
De-Peng Jiang
Xiang-Dong Zhou
Victor P Kolosov
Journal: Journal of Korean Medical Science (2011)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Airway Epithelial Cells; Human Neutrophil Elastase; Interleukin-13; MUC5AC; Scutellarin.
Affiliations: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China., Far Eastern Scientific Center of Physiology and Pathology of Respiration, Blagoveschensk, Russia., Department of Respiratory Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Abstract:  Scutellarin is a flavonoid extracted from a traditional Chinese herb, Erigeron breviscapus. The present study investigated the effect of scutellarin on MUC5AC mucin production and the possible mechanism. Human bronchial epithelial 16 (HBE16) cells were pretreated with scutellarin for 60 min, and then exposed to human neutrophil elastase (HNE) or interleukin (IL)-13 for 12 hr. RT-PCR and ELISA were performed to measure the amount of MUC5AC mucin production. The results showed that scutellarin inhibited MUC5AC expression both in mRNA and protein level induced by HNE in a concentration-dependent manner. However, scutellarin failed to inhibit MUC5AC mucin production induced by IL-13. To investigate the intracellular mechanisms associated with the effect of scutellarin on MUC5AC mucin production, western blotting was carried out to examine the phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC), signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). The phosphorylation of PKC and ERK1/2 was attenuated after treatment with scutellarin, whereas STAT6 was not significantly affected. Therefore, it is suggested that scutellarin down-regulates MUC5AC mucin production on HBE16 cells via ERK-dependent and PKC-dependent pathways. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Recently, I found two studies on the effect of scutellarin in airway mucus secretion were very similar, which were from same lab. Surprisingly, I noticed that many data were duplicated and potentially manipulated by the authors. I think the authors should make clear explanations on this. Please find the comments as follows. ![file] Figure 3 of PMID: 22083990 and Figure 4 of PMID: 21655064 were duplicated. ![file] Figure 6 of PMID: 22083990 and Figure 6 of PMID: 21655064 were duplicated. Furthermore, the interventions of these two studies were not totally same. As shown in orange frames, the last band of GAPDH was from HNE+gifitinib in PMID: 22083990. However, the last band of GAPDH was from HNE+Calphostin in PMID: 21655064. ![file] Figure 6 of PMID: 22083990 and Figure 7 of PMID: 21655064 were duplicated. Furthermore, the interventions of these two studies were not totally same. As shown in orange frames, the last sample of GAPDH was for HNE+gifitinib in PMID: 22083990. However, the last sample of GAPDH was for HNE+PD98059 in PMID: 21655064. ![file] In different interventions (orange frame), same GAPDH band was used, which should be apparently data manipulation. ,