Retracted : Effects of gene knockdown of CNP on ventricular remodeling after myocardial ischemia‐reperfusion injury through NPRB/Cgmp signaling pathway in rats
Authors: Lian-He Wu
Yan-Chi Wang
Shen Zhang
Lu-Yu Meng
Qi Zhang
Cun-Jian Sheng
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: C-type natriuretic peptide; NPRB/cGMP signaling pathway; gene knockdown; myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury; ventricular remodeling.
Affiliations: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Jining, China., Department of Cardiology, Dongying City People's Hospital, Dongying, China.

Abstract:  This study aimed to explore effects of CNP on ventricular remodeling following myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury through the NPRB/cGMP signaling pathway. Rat cardiomyocytes were assigned into: control, I/R, I/R + CNP, and I/R + 8-Br-cGMP groups. ELISA, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting were used to detect cGMP content and expression, respectively. After model establishment of I/R rats, normal control, CNP-/- control, I/R, and CNP-/- groups were set. Indexes of heart were detected using echocardiography and hemodynamics. ELISA was used to measure serum CNP, cGMP, LDH, cTn I, CK-MB, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Myocardial infarct was identified by TTC staining, and apoptosis conditions by TUNEL staining. QRT-PCR and Western blotting were adopted to detect expressions of CNP, NPRB, cGMP, and apoptosis-related genes. Compared with control group, cGMP contents and expression in the I/R, I/R + CNP and I/R + 8-Br-cGMP groups were decreased. Levels of LVEDV, LVESV, LVDS, LVDD, IVSD, LVM, LVEDP, and LVSP were higher in the I/R, CNP-/- control, and CNP-/- groups than normal control group while LVEF, SV, CO, and ±dp/dtmax were lower. Compared with the normal control group, LDH, cTn I, CK-MB, TNF-α, and IL-6 were higher in the I/R, CNP-/- control and CNP-/- groups; pathological changes and myocardial infarction were observed in the I/R, CNP-/- control, and CNP-/- groups; expressions of apoptosis-related genes in those groups were higher; while CNP, NPRB, cGMP, and Bcl-2 expressions were decreased. We came to the conclusion that gene knockdown of CNP blocks the NPRB/cGMP signaling pathway, thereby aggravating myocardial I/R injury and causing ventricular remodeling in rats. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 10A.  The protein expressions of CNP, NPRB, cGMP and apoptosis-related proteins of myocardial tissues in rats normal control, CNP- - control, I R , and CNP- - groups. Notes: A, the protein expressions of CNP, NPRB and cGMP . ![file] The loading control appears to be the same as in *[left]* and *[middle]* Figs 5B and 4B from [Wen et al (2018)] , and *[right]* 6E from [Zhang et al (2018)] . ![] Not to forget the control bands of Fig 6A C of [Wang et al (2018)] . ![] Fig 5C from [Xiao et al (2018)] : ![file] , 
 Fig 1A,B. ![file] For comparison with Fig 6A,B of [Wang Qiao (2018)] (in the same issue). ![file] , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . ------------------------------------------------ The above article, published online on 10 August 2017 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between 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. A detailed investigation revealed that several image elements of the experimental data were published elsewhere in a different scientific context. Thus, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. , 
 Fig 8 .  TUNEL staining and apoptosis of myocardial cells in rats normal control, CNP- - control, I R , and CNP- - groups . ![file] Fig 2a from [Chen et al (2019)] .  TUNEL staining reflecting apoptotic cardiomyocytes . ![file] ,