Retracted: Inhibition of SNK‐SPAR signaling pathway promotes the restoration of motor function in a rat model of ischemic stroke
Authors: Qing-Yu Fan
Na Liu
Gui-Lian Zhang
Shu-Qin Zhan
Hai-Qin Wu
Ru Zhang
Jing-Jie Liu
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: SNK; SPAR; ischemic stroke; motor function; signaling pathway.
Affiliations: Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China., Department of Ultrasound, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, P.R. China.

Abstract:  This study aimed to investigate the effects of SPAR signaling pathway on the restoration of motor function in ischemic stroke (IS). Sprague-Dawley male rats were separated into the control and sham groups, as well as the group for middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model establishment. Successfully established rat ischemic models were randomly divided into model, SNKMCAO-del and pcDNA3.1-SNK groups. The evaluation of motor function among the rats in each group was assessed using a balance beam, a screen test and the Garcia scoring method. CatWalk gait analysis was employed to evaluate the effect of the SNK signaling pathway on rat motor function. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and TUNEL staining were techniques were utilized for cerebral infarction (CI) area as well for hippocampal neuron apoptosis. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting methods were performed to detect mRNA and protein expressions of SNK and SPAR. When compared with the model group, the SNKMCAO-del group displayed decreased motor function score and CI area, while contrasting results were observed in the pcDNA3.1-SNK group. According to the results obtained from the CatWalk gait analysis, the SNKMCAO-del group showed a clear improvement compared to the model group whereas the pcDNA3.1-SNK group exhibited poorer results than the model group in the objective parameters of the study, such as movement, speed, running duration, print area, maximal contact area, maximal, mean intensity, and stride length. These findings suggested that SNK gene silencing promotes motor function by inhibiting the SNK-SPAR signaling pathway in rats with ischemic stroke. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Figs 5B,  The mRNA and protein expressions of SNK and SPAR in the hippocampal tissues of rats among five groups... B, Western blotting images for u03b2-actin, SNK and SPAR and 11B,  The mRNA and protein expressions of SNK and SPAR in the hippocampal neurons after transfection of rats among five groups ... B, The western blotting images for u03b2-actin, SNK and SPAR . ![file] The stylised nature of the Western Blots in this paper are suggestive of a papermill provenance for this report. Other examples are tabulated in a spreadsheet. https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1r0MyIYpagBc58BRF9c3luWNlCX8VUvUuPyYYXzxWvgY edit?usp=sharing For comparison with 11B, Fig 3B from [Zhu et al (2018)] and other manifestations adduced in that thread. ![file] , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . ----------------------------------- The above article, published online on 11 July 2017 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between the 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. , 
 *[right]* Fig 2,  The pathological changes of hippocampal tissues in rats among each group . *[left]* Figs 2C, 3B from [Fang et al (2019)] :  the pathological changes of brain tissues of mice in each group as determined by HE staining . ![] , 
 *[below]* Fig 3A.  The CI area of rats among five groups detected by TTC staining Note: A, TTC staining . *[above]* Fig. 1 from [Lv et al (2017)] .  Comparison of CI volume in the sham, MCAO, DADLE, LY294002 and DMSO groups using TTC staining. Note: A, coronal section of brain tissues determined by TTC staining at 72h after I R injury . ![file] I have questions. UPDATE: Also Fig 3A from [Li et al (2017)] .  The TTC staining of brain tissue . ![file] -------------------------------------- UPDATE: Fig 1 from [Guo et al (2018)] . ![] UPDATE #2 Fig 3a from [Han et al (2018)] was drawn from the same series. ![file] ,