Long non-coding RNA PCAT-1 promotes cardiac fibroblast proliferation via upregulating TGF-β1
Authors: F-Y Qiu
Q Chen
G-S Fu
C Feng
Z-D Shen
Y Liu
M-H Wang
Q-F Li
Journal: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (2019)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: lncRNA; PCAT-1; atrial fibrillation; RT-qPCR; cell proliferation
Affiliations: Department of Cardiology, Biomedical Research Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. .

Abstract:  Objective: Recently, the vital functions of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in many diseases have been explored. This study aims to identify the function of lncRNA PCAT-1 in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and methods: Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect PCAT-1 expression in right atrial appendage (RAA) tissues of 51 AF patients and 35 patients with sinus rhythm (SR). Besides, cell proliferation assay was conducted in AC16 cells with PCAT-1 knockdown. Molecular mechanism of PCAT-1 in influencing the progression of AF was finally investigated. Results: PCAT-1 expression was higher in RAA tissues of AF patients than those of SR patients. Moreover, knockdown of PCAT-1 inhibited proliferation in AC16 cells. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) was a target of PCAT-1 and its expression in AF tissues positively correlated to PCAT-1 expression. Conclusions: PCAT-1 could promote cell proliferation of AF via promoting TGF-β1, which may provide a new theory for AF development. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 This paper is one of a set of 121 papers that all contain images from the same library of about 100 photos and plots. This is unexpected, because each paper has different authors and different affiliations, with little to no overlap, and describes different cancer types and molecules. It would be very hard to explain how authors from different labs would all obtain the same photo. Therefore, the papers might have all be derived from the same source, such as a paper mill that sells ready-to-be-published papers. This  Stock Photo paper set has been described in more detail on my blog post, https: scienceintegritydigest.com 2020 07 05 the-stock-photo-paper-mill and in a Wall Street Journal article by Eva Xiao (currently behind a paywall): https: www.wsj.com articles chinese-research-papers-raise-doubts-fueling-global-questions-about-scientific-integrity-11593939600 The vast majority (113 121) of the papers were published in the same journal, European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences (ERMPS). A link to the full set of papers can be found here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 172RWS18w1lTNJ9Nnj80fuXXTqTm4fGkoK0sdYyvKE3g edit?usp=sharing All papers have been reported to the journal editors on July 2, 2020. , 
 [Retracted] . Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, u201cLong non-coding RNA PCAT-1 promotes cardiac fibroblast proliferation via upregulating TGF-u03b21, by Q. Chen, C. Feng, Y. Liu, Q.-F. Li, F.-Y. Qiu, M.-H. Wang, Z.-D. Shen, G.-S. Fu, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019; 23(23): 10517-10522u2013DOI: 10.26355 eurrev_201912_19692u2013PMID: 31841207u201d has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. ![file] ,