Long non-coding RNA H19 down-regulates miR-181a to facilitate endothelial angiogenic function
Authors: Yu Li
Aidong Zhu
Qiuju Ma
Lifen Chu
Journal: Artificial Cells Nanomedicine and Biotechnology (2019)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: HMEC-1 cell; LncRNA H19; angiogenesis; miR-181a; peripheral artery disease.
Affiliations: a Department of Vascular Surgery, Jining No.1 People's Hospital , Jining , China., b Affiliated Jining No.1 People's Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University , Jining , China.

Abstract:  H19 is the first identified long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) whose function in diverse cancers and non-cancerous disease states has been widely studied. The objective of this study was to study the functional role of H19 in vascular endothelial cells. We found that H19 overexpression significantly increased HMEC-1 cells viability, migration and tube-formation capacity. Meanwhile, H19 overexpression up-regulated the protein levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF and eNOS, and down-regulated RNA level of miR-181a. These alterations, induced by H19 overexpression were abolished by miR-181a overexpression, while they were enhanced when miR-181a was silenced. And also, overexpression of H19 activated JNK and AMPK signalling, which could be eliminated by miR-181a overexpression and accelerated by miR-181a suppression. In conclusion, overexpression of H19 improved HMEC-1 cells viability, migration and tube-formation capacity. H19 exerted pro-angiogenic effects possibly by down-regulating miR-181a, and thus activating JNK and AMPK signalling pathways. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Previously retracted from another journal.  Editorial Note: We, the Editor and Publisher, are aware that this article u201cLong non-coding RNA H19 promotes angiogenesis in microvascular endothelial cells by down-regulating miR-181au201d, was previously published in the __International Journal of Biological Macromolecules__ in August 2018. After publication the authors noticed significant errors in their results, and in agreement with the editors at __International Journal of Biological Macromolecules__, withdrew the article. The authors revised the study to address the errors and submitted to __Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine and Biotechnology__, where the article was fully peer reviewed and accepted for publication by the editors. In the interests of providing our readers with full transparency on this issue we have provided the link to the withdrawal statement . Withdrawal statement: https: www.sciencedirect.com science article pii S0141813018336328 Comparing the two versions, I cannot see any change in the results. They are still papermill fabrications. ![file] , 
 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, [10 August 2021] . -------------------------- We, the Publisher and Editor of *Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology*, are issuing an Expression of Concern for the following article: Aidong Zhu, Lifen Chu, Qiuju Ma Yu Li (2019) Long non-coding RNA H19 down-regulates miR-181a to facilitate endothelial angiogenic function. *Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology*, 47:1, 2698-2705, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1634577 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. , 
 Retracted [26 April 2022] . ---------------------- We, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, have retracted the following article: Aidong Zhu, Lifen Chu, Qiuju Ma Yu Li (2019) Long non-coding RNA H19 down-regulates miR-181a to facilitate endothelial angiogenic function. Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 47:1, 2698u20132705, DOI: 10.1080 21691401.2019.1634577) Since publication, the authors repeated some of their experiments and found that under the same conditions they could not repeat the results reported in this paper. 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. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as u2018Retractedu2019. ,