Emodin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Injury via Down-Regulation of miR-223 in H9c2 Cells
Authors: Zijun Jiang
Yuping Yang
Dong Zhuge
Journal: International Heart Journal (2019)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Apoptosis; Cell viability; Inflammation injury; Jnk pathway; Myocarditis.
Affiliations: Department of General Medicine, East Medical District of Linyi People's Hospital., Department of Emergency, East Medical District of Linyi People's Hospital.

Abstract:  Emodin is a natural product extracted from Rheum palmatum. There are few recent studies on emodin in the treatment of myocarditis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of emodin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory injury in cardiomyocytes. H9c2 cells were treated with 10 μM of LPS and different concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 μM) of emodin. The expression of miR-223 was changed by transient transfection. Thereafter, cell viability, apoptosis, the expression of CyclinD1 and Jnk-associated proteins, and the release of pro-inflammatory factors were assessed by cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. The results showed that 20 μM of emodin significantly decreased H9c2 cells viability. LPS significantly damaged H9c2 cells, as cell viability was reduced, CyclinD1 was down-regulated, apoptosis was induced, the release of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were increased, and the phosphorylation of Jnk and c-Jun were promoted. Emodin protected H9c2 cells against LPS-induced inflammatory injury. miR-223 expression was significantly up-regulated by LPS exposure, while emodin lessened this up-regulation. LPS-injured H9c2 cells were attenuated by the overexpression of miR-223; emodin has protective actions on LPS-injured H9c2 cells and targets. Besides, SP600125 (an inhibitor of Jnk) eliminated miR-223-modulated inflammatory injury in H9c2 cells. These data demonstrated that emodin could attenuate LPS-induced inflammatory injury and deactivate Jnk signaling pathway through down-regulation of miR-223. 

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 , 
 Linyi People s Hospital reported the results on an investigation, on [28 September 2021](http: www.ly120.cn prt main scddetl.lay?infoid=2553 t=1632793446912%EF%BC%89). H t to Google Translate for translation. If the link stops working the National Health Commission of the PRC provided a summary report on [30 September](http: www.nhc.gov.cn cms-search xxgk getManuscriptXxgk.htm?id=bdeb7e0443ff4a95bc46a8621606ab97). --------------------------- In order to strengthen the construction of scientific research integrity, severely punish violations, and create a good environment for scientific and technological innovation, the relevant paper issues recently investigated and dealt with by this unit are hereby notified as follows. 1. Linyi Peopleu2019s Hospital Yang Yuping is the first author and Zhugedong is the corresponding author. Published the paper  Emodin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Injury via Down-Regulation of miR-223 in H9c2 Cells . After investigation, there is academic misconduct in the sale of papers. behavior. Relevant responsible personnel are dealt with as follows: - (1) To the first author Yang Yuping: talk about scientific research integrity, and instruct him to write a written inspection; the whole hospital circulates criticism; cancels his participation in the 2020 annual evaluation, and the annual assessment shall not be determined as an excellent ranking; cancel his scientific research within 5 years Projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans, etc. to declare qualifications; cancel their qualifications as nominees or recommenders, nominated or recommenders, and review experts within 5 years; suspend their graduate tutor application qualifications for 5 years; revoke their untrustworthy use of scientific research Relevant academic awards, professional titles and honorary titles obtained by the behavior; require them to contact the magazine within 30 days to withdraw the manuscript; deduct the performance salary of 5,000 yuan. - (2) To the corresponding author Zhugedong: Talk about scientific research integrity and admonishment, instruct him to write a written inspection; the whole hospital notified the criticism; canceled his participation in the 2020 annual evaluation, and the annual assessment must not be determined as an excellent ranking; canceled his scientific research within 5 years Projects, scientific research awards, scientific and technological achievements, scientific and technological talent plans, etc. to declare qualifications; cancel their qualifications as nominees or recommenders, nominated or recommenders, and review experts within 5 years; suspend their graduate tutor application qualifications for 5 years; revoke their untrustworthy use of scientific research Relevant academic awards, professional titles and honorary titles obtained by the behavior; require them to contact the magazine within 30 days to withdraw the manuscript; deduct the performance salary of 5,000 yuan. , 
 Retracted [29 January 2022] .  The editorial office of International Heart Journal would like to inform our readers that the experimental study titled  Emodin Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Injury via Down-Regulation of miR-223 in H9c2 Cells written by Yuping Yang, Zijun Jiang, Dong Zhuge and published in the March 2019 issue of International Heart Journal (Int Heart J 2019; 60: 436-443) has been retracted upon request from the authors. ,