Retracted : LncRNA ATB promotes proliferation and metastasis in A549 cells by down‐regulation of microRNA‐494
Authors: Yiwei Cao
Xiaoqian Ding
Caihong Guo
Xiangjun Luo
Shichao Cui
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: AKT/JAK/STAT3; lncRNA ATB; lung cancer; microRNA-494; tumorigenesis.
Affiliations: Department of Respiratory MedicineThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdaoChina, Department of Respiratory MedicineQingdao Eighth People's HospitalQingdaoChina

Abstract:  Lung cancer is a commonly diagnosed disease with poor prognosis. Novel therapeutic targets and deep understanding of the regulatory mechanisms in lung cancer are of great importance. We aimed to figure out the functional roles of lncRNA-activated by transforming growth factor-β (ATB) in A549 cells as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms. ATB was non-physiologically expressed in A549 cells after cell transfection. Then, cell proliferation, expressions of proteins related to proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion were measured by BrdU incorporation assay, Western blot analysis, and Transwell assay, respectively. Afterwards, miR-494 expression in transfected A549 cells was determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Meanwhile, effects of miR-494 overexpression on ATB-overexpressed cells were assessed. Finally, the phosphorylation levels of AKT and key kinases in the Janus-activated kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) pathway were detected by Western blot analysis. ATB overexpression promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion of A549 cells. Meanwhile, EMT of A549 cells was also enhanced. ATB silence showed the opposite influence. Expression of miR-494 was negatively regulated by ATB. Following experiments showed ATB-induced alterations of proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT were all reversed by miR-494 overexpression. Finally, we proved that ATB increased phosphorylated levels of AKT, JAK1, and STAT3, and those increases were all reversed by miR-494 overexpression. We interestingly figured out that ATB promoted proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT through down-regulating miR-494 in A549 cells. Moreover, ATB might activate AKT and the JAK/STAT3 pathway via down-regulating miR-494. 

Retracted: Yes

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 , 
 Retracted [15 December 2020] .  u2018LncRNA ATB promotes proliferation and metastasis in A549 cells by downregulation of microRNAu2010494u2019, by Yiwei Cao, Xiangjun Luo, Xiaoqian Ding, Shichao Cui, Caihong Guo, J Cell Biochem. 2018; 6935u20106942: The above article, published online on 25 April 2018 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Christian Behl, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. Several flaws and inconsistencies between results presented and experimental methods described were found, thus the conclusions of this article are deemed invalid. , 
 As part of [a round-up of recent research-integrity findings](http: www.most.gov.cn zxgz kycxjs kycxgzdt 202111 t20211119_178071.html), China s MInistry of Science Technology reported [an investigation at Qingdao University] : u30003. The paper  LncRNA ATB promotes proliferation and metastasis in A549 cells by down-regulation of microRNA-494 by Guo Caihong as the corresponding author and Cao Yiwei as the first author of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University. After investigation, the paper has a problem of falsification. Guo Caihong and Cao Yiwei were dealt with as follows: 1 year of demerit, cancellation of application or application for science and technology plan projects (special projects, funds, etc.), science and technology awards, science and technology talent title qualifications for 5 years, cancellation of nominations or recommenders, nominees or recommenders, Appraisal experts and other qualifications for 5 years, recorded in the scientific research untrustworthy file, given scientific research integrity admonition talks, canceled participation in this yearu2019s evaluation, and the annual evaluation shall not be determined as qualified or above. H t Google Translate. ,