The Role of Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 in the Effects of Experimental Diabetes on B Cell Functions in the Heart
Authors: Sankar Addya
Anil Kumar
Alexander Y Tsygankov
Sanket K Shukla
Amrita Sarkar
Khadija Rafiq
Aseel Alqatawni
Journal: Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2018)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: B cells; Streptozotocin (STZ); allograft inflammatory factor-1; diabetic cardiomyopathy; inflammatory responses
Affiliations: Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States., Kimmel Cancer Centre, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States., Microbiology and Immunology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

Abstract:  Diabetes mellitus (DM) often causes chronic inflammation, hypertrophy, apoptosis and fibrosis in the heart and subsequently leads to myocardial remodeling, deteriorated cardiac function and heart failure. However, the etiology of the cardiac disease is unknown. Therefore, we assessed the gene expression in the left ventricle of diabetic and non-diabetic mice using Affymetrix microarray analysis. Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1), one of the top downregulated B cell inflammatory genes, is associated with B cell functions in inflammatory responses. Real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction confirmed the Affymetrix data. The expression of CD19 and AIF-1 were downregulated in diabetic hearts as compared to control hearts. Using in vitro migration assay, we showed for the first time that AIF-1 is responsible for B cell migration as B cells migrated to GFP-AIF-1-transfected H9C2 cells compared to empty vector-transfected cells. Interestingly, overexpression of AIF-1 in diabetic mice prevented streptozotocin-induced cardiac dysfunction, inflammation and promoted B cell homing into the heart. Our results suggest that AIF-1 downregulation inhibited B cell homing into diabetic hearts, thus promoting inflammation that leads to the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy, and that overexpression of AIF-1 could be a novel treatment for this condition. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 2A. Much more similar than expected. https: imgur.com rybND5F , 
 Figure 4E. Much more similar than expected. https: imgur.com uxwgx0c , 
 Figure 3. Much more similar than expected. https: imgur.com j7FDRIh , 
 Figure 6C. Much more similar than expected. ![file] , 
 Figure 8E. CD19 similar looking bands, confirmed also by noise heatmap. CD21 non continuous flow of grey colour. ![file] , 
 Figure 8E. Much more similar than expected. https: imgur.com PzmKHam , 
 Retracted, November 2021: https: www.frontiersin.org articles 10.3389 fcvm.2021.804542 full  Following publication, concerns were raised to the editorial office regarding the reliability of the scientific evidence as presented in some figures. The authors failed to provide a satisfactory explanation during the investigation, which was conducted in accordance with Frontiers policies. This retraction was approved by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine and the Chief Executive Editor of Frontiers. The authors did not agree to this retraction. ,