microRNA-103 promotes LPS-induced inflammatory injury by targeting c-Myc in HK-2 cells
Authors: Wei Zhang
Yingying Wang
Wenyan Deng
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Chronic kidney disease; JAK/STAT; NF-κB; c-Myc; microRNA-103.
Affiliations: Department of Nephrology, Jining No. 1 People’s Hospital, Jining, China

Abstract:  Aims: microRNAs (miRNAs) occupy a vital position in diseases. This research aims to detect miR-103 influence on LPS-resulted HK-2 cells inflammation damage. Methods: Cells were exposed to LPS for inducing injury. CCK-8 and flow cytometry were introduced to detect cell viability and apoptosis rate, respectively. ELISA, qRT-PCR and western blot were respectively used to explore inflammation factors production and relative proteins expression. The relationship between miR-103 and c-Myc was analysed through luciferase reporter assay. Results: LPS led to significant inhibition of cell viability (p &lt; .05) and proliferation-related proteins expression. It also increased the apoptosis rate (p &lt; .05) and promoted inflammation cytokines overproduction (p &lt; .001). Besides, miR-103 was elevated by LPS (p &lt; .01), and aggravated LPS-induced damage above, while miR-103 inhibitor attenuated this impairment (p &lt; .05, p &lt; .01 or p &lt; .001). However, c-Myc silence abolished miR-103 inhibitor protective effect on cell proliferation (p &lt; .05), apoptosis (p &lt; .01) and inflammation factors expression (p &lt; .05 or p &lt; .01), representing a negative relationship between them. Besides, the activity of NF-κB as well as JAK/STAT pathways was controlled by miR-103, also, mediated through c-Myc. Conclusions: miR-103 mimic enhanced LPS-caused inflammation damage by silencing c-Myc in HK-2 cell line. 

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 [6 April 2021] . ------------------------------- We, the Publisher and Editor of Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, are issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article: Wei Zhang, Wenyan Deng Yingying Wang (2019) microRNA-103 promotes LPS-induced inflammatory injury by targeting c-Myc in HK-2 cells. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47(1), 2791u20132799, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1636806 After publication of this article, questions about the scientific integrity of the article content were brought to the Publisher and Editoru2019s attention. We reached out to the authors requesting that they supply information that would confirm the articleu2019s integrity. The authors provided several files in response to our queries, but they were unable to provide the original data in a format which satisfies our requirements to confirm the authenticity of some types of data. In particular, they were unable to provide full western blots, where the molecular weight markers are indicated. Therefore, as we continue to work through the issues raised, we advise readers to interpret the information presented in the article with due caution. The authors have been notified about this Expression of Concern. , 
 [Jining First People s Hospital Release time: 2021-12-17] : In order to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity, severely punish violations, and create a good environment for scientific and technological innovation, the relevant paper issues recently investigated and dealt with by this unit are hereby notified as follows. 1. The paper  microRNA-103 promotes LPS-induced inflammatory injury by targeting c-Myc in HK-2 cells was published by Yingying Wang as the corresponding author, Wei Zhang as the first author, and Wenyan Deng as the co-first author. The investigation shows that there are academic misconducts such as tampering with data, fabricating research processes, and improperly signing names. The relevant responsible persons are dealt with as follows: Wang Yingying (corresponding author, combined with another paper): cancel the application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans within 6 years; cancel 6 years as a nomination or recommendation Qualifications such as people, nominees or recommenders, review experts, etc.; cancel the membership or membership of academic institutions such as societies, associations, etc. that they have obtained; postpone the appointment of senior professional and technical positions for 2 years; instruct to contact the magazine as soon as possible to withdraw the manuscript; Administrative warning. Zhang Wei (first author, merged with another paper): Cancellation of application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans within 6 years; cancellation of 6 years as a nominee or recommender, nominee or recommender, Evaluation of qualifications such as experts; cancellation of membership or membership in academic institutions such as societies and associations; revocation of higher-level professional and technical positions that have been obtained; postponement of promotion to higher-level professional and technical positions for 2 years; warning from the party. Deng Wenyan (tied for the first author): Cancellation of application qualifications for scientific research projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans, etc. within 5 years; Obtained membership or membership of academic institutions such as societies and associations; 1-year suspension of employment for a higher-level professional and technical position; administrative warning. ,