Silencing lncRNA HOTAIR declines synovial inflammation and synoviocyte proliferation and promotes synoviocyte apoptosis in osteoarthritis rats by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Chengjian He
Xin Li
Bo Yang
Tian Mao
Huafeng Wu
Journal: Cell Cycle (2019)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: HOTAIR; Osteoarthritis; Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
Affiliations: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , P.R. China., Orthopedics, Hubei Provincial Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Wuhan , P.R. China., Orthopaedic Section 2, Zhongxiang traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital , Wuhan , P.R.China., Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 672 Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Orthopaedic Hospital of Hubei , Wuhan , P.R.China., Orthopedic medical center, 2nd Hospital of Jilin University , Wuhan , P.R.China.

Abstract:  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative injury of the articular cartilage and reactive hyperplasia of the articular rim and subchondral bone. Due to its poor prognosis, this study is to research the influences of lncRNA HOTAIR on synovial inflammation and synoviocyte apoptosis and proliferation in OA rats by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Rat OA model was constructed by means of cruciate ligament resection, and the successfully modeled rats were injected with sh-HOTAIR, or Wnt/β-catenin pathway activator (LiCl), and synoviocytes were transfected with sh-HOTAIR or LiCl for investigation of the influences of HOTAIR and Wnt/β-catenin pathway on synoviocytes proliferation and apoptosis. ELISA and RT-qPCR were used to detect the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum, synovial tissue and synoviocytes in rats, respectively. The protein levels of bax, bcl-2, wnt1 and β-catenin in synovial tissue and synoviocytes were tested by Western blot analysis. Highly expressed HOTAIR existed in synovial tissue and synoviocytes of rats. There were declining arthritis index, inflammation, synoviocytes proliferation, cycle progression and promoted synoviocytes apoptosis by silencing HOTAIR and inhibited Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Down-regulation of HOTAIR could reverse the effect of LiCl on progression of OA rats. There was strained activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway via declining HOTAIR. This study suggests that silencing lncRNA HOTAIR and inhibited Wnt/β-catenin pathway decline synovial inflammation and synoviocyte proliferation and promote apoptosis in OA rats. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 7a.  Synoviocytes apoptosis detected by flow cytometry . I have zoomed in on two of the seven panels so that readers can appreciate their fine filigree. ![file] , 
 Fig 7c.  Cell apoptosis morphology detected by Hoechst 33258 staining . ![] I have concerns about individual panels. ![file] ![file]  We would like to acknowledge the reviewers for their helpful comments on this paper. Reviewers were evidently more helpful than observant. , 
 This paper is already dead, scientifically, but let me add some more. I noticed the trouble with Figurre 2 and 3 before I knew that Hoya already had reported this paper. Figure 2A and 3A are fabricated, seen be the repetition of patterns. , 
 Here are some examples from Figure 2A and 3A: ![file] , 
  Guarantor of integrity of the entire studyuff1aTian Mao, Chengjian He . , 
 Retracted, [22 February 2022] . ------------------ We, the Editors and Publisher of the journal Cell Cycle, have retracted the following article: Tian Mao, Chengjian He, Huafeng Wu, Bo Yang Xin Li (2019) u2018Silencing lncRNA HOTAIR declines synovial inflammation and synoviocyte proliferation and promotes synoviocyte apoptosis in osteoarthritis rats by inhibiting Wnt u03b2-catenin signaling pathwayu2019 Cell Cycle, 18:22, https: doi.org 10.1080 15384101.2019.1671716 Since publication, the authors have raised significant concerns about the reliability of the data presented in the article. As the Editor and Publisher also have concerns about the integrity of the reported results, all parties 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. ,