Tanshinone inhibits neuronal cell apoptosis and inflammatory response in cerebral infarction rat model
Authors: Liang Zhou
Jie Zhang
Qiangsan Sun
Chao Wang
Journal: International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology (2017)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: cell apoptosis; cerebral infarction; inflammatory response; tanshinone IIA.
Affiliations: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China, Department of Massage, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China

Abstract:  We aimed to investigate the effect and mechanisms of tanshinone (TSN) IIA in cerebral infarction. The cerebral infarction rat model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). After pretreatment with TSN, cerebral infarct volume, cerebral edema, and neurological deficits score were evaluated, as well as cell apoptosis in hippocampus and cortex of the brain was examined with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). In addition, rat primary neuronal cells were isolated and cultured in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) conditions. After pretreatment with TSN, cell viability and apoptosis were observed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The expressions of Bax and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) were detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Compared with untreated cerebral infarction rat, TSN treatment significantly reduced cerebral infarct volume, cerebral edema, and neurological deficits score ( P &lt; 0.05). Cell apoptosis as well as the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP in hippocampus and cortex of cerebral infarction rat were inhibited after pretreatment with TSN ( P &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, TSN remarkably increased cell viability and inhibited cell apoptosis ratio ( P &lt; 0.05) in OGD-induced rat neuronal cells. Besides, TSN significantly downregulated the expression of Bax and upregulated Bcl-2 ( P &lt; 0.05). TSN IIA has a preventive effect on cerebral infarction by inhibiting neuronal cell apoptosis and inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo. 

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 , 
 February 2021 Expression of Concern found here: https: journals.sagepub.com doi 10.1177 20587384211000803 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 3 to illustrate the  tadpole like appearance of the Western blots in this paper, and the peculiar appearance of the flow cytometry images: ![file] , 
 Retracted [2 September 2021] . H t [RetractionWatch] . -------------------------------- At the request of the Journal Editor(s) the following article has been retracted. Zhou L, Zhang J, Wang C, Sun Q (2017) Tanshinone inhibits neuronal cell apoptosis and inflammatory response in cerebral infarction rat model. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology 30(2) 123-129. DOI: 10.1177 0394632017703274. 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. ,