Protective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on H2O2-induced oxidative injury in human endothelial cell line (EA.hy926) via miR-210
Authors: Fubao Jia
Hanming Ge
Lei Mou
Journal: International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: BNIP3; ginsenoside Rb1; miR-210; oxidative stress.
Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Shanxian Central Hospital, Heze, China, Department of Neurology, Rizhao Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Rizhao, China, Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi’an No.3 Hospital, Xi’an, China

Abstract:  Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) possesses a cardioprotective effect via mediating microRNAs (miRs), while it is unexplored whether miR-210 is regulated by Rb1 in response to oxidative stress. Human endothelial EA.hy926 cells were stimulated with H2O2 before Rb1 treatment. After transfection, cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and invasion assays were conducted. Western blot was applied to quantify protein. BCL2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa interacting protein 3 (BNIP3) and miR-210 were analyzed with quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Dual luciferase activity assay was performed. Rb1 elevated viability, migration, and invasion of H2O2-treated cells. H2O2-induced apoptosis was moderated by Rb1. miR-210 was augmented in H2O2-treated cells after Rb1 stimulation. miR-210 inhibitor abolished the positive effects of Rb1. BNIP3 was negatively modulated by miR-210 and implicated in modulating viability, apoptosis, and migration and invasion. In addition, BNIP3 modulated phosphorylation of regulators. Rb1 repressed oxidative injury via elevating miR-210. miR-210 negatively mediated BNIP3, which participated in oxidative damage via regulating mammalian targets of rapamycin (mTOR) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). 

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 , 
 February 2021 Expression of Concern found here: https: journals.sagepub.com doi full 10.1177 20587384211000848 From the Notice:  *It has been brought to SAGEu2019s attention that this article may have been written (and possibly submitted) by a third-party agency, and that the contents of the article may be partially or wholly fabricated. SAGE is currently conducting a thorough investigation into this to establish the most appropriate way forward.* Here is Figure 4 to illustrate the  tadpole like appearance of the Western blots in this paper: ![file] , 
 Retracted [2 September 2021] . H t [RetractionWatch] . ------------------------- At the request of the Journal Editor(s) the following article has been retracted. Jia F, Mou L, Ge H (2019) Protective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on H2O2-induced oxidative injury in human endothelial cell line (EA.hy926) via miR-210. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 33: 1-11. DOI: 10.1177 2058738419866021. Significant similarities between this paper and a number of other papers have been identified, as well as indication of image and data manipulation suggestive of the use of a u201cpaper millu201d. These papers share common structures and wording yet do not share any common authors. The authors did not provide a sufficient response or evidence to refute these claims. As a result, the scientific accuracy of this paper is not reliable. Adhering to the international guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics, the Journal has determined these are grounds for retraction. ,