Retracted : CUL4B promotes metastasis and proliferation in pancreatic cancer cells by inducing epithelial‐mesenchymal transition via the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Yue-Ming He
Jia-Qiang Zhang
Yu-Sha Xiao
Lei Wei
Cheng-Hong Peng
Journal: Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (2018)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: CUL4B; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; metastasis; pancreatic cancer.
Affiliations: Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Bililary Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, P.R. China., Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Zhejiang Xiaoshan Hospital, Hangzhou, P.R. China.

Abstract:  This study determines whether cullin 4B (CUL4B) promotes pancreatic cancer (PC) metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. A total of 64 PC patients were enrolled in this study. Human PC cell lines were distributed into blank, negative control, shCUL4B, PLOC, PLOC-CUL4B, and PLOC-CUL4B + siRNA-β-catenin groups. The expressions of CUL4B, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway-related proteins, and EMT-related proteins were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. The positive expressions of CUL4B and β-catenin protein in tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. MTT assay and flow cytometry was performed for cell proliferation and cell cycle, scratch test, and transwell assay for cell migration and invasion ability. CUL4B and β-catenin were expressed at a higher level in PC tissues than in paracancerous tissues though paracancerous tissues had higher expressions of CUL4B and β-catenin than normal tissues. The PLOC-CUL4B group showed increased CUL4B, Wnt, β-catenin, LEF-1, c-Jun, Cyclin D1, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, and ZEB1 expression; decreased E-cadherin expression; accelerated cell proliferation; increased S-phase cell percentages; increased cell migration ability; more liver metastases; and enlarged tumor than the PLOC and PLOC-CUL4B + siRNA-β-catenin groups. The shCUL4B group showed decreased CUL4B, Wnt, β-catenin, LEF-1, c-Jun, Cyclin D1, N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, and ZEB1 expression; increased E-cadherin expression; decelerated cell proliferation; decreased S-phase cell percentages; reduced cell migration ability; less liver metastases; and decreased tumor weight than the blank and negative control groups. We demonstrate that CUL4B promotes PC metastasis by inducing EMT via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Therefore, CUL4B might be the clinical target for treating PC. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 Fig 10B.  Cell invasion and migration ability among the blank, negative control, shCUL4B, PLOC, PLOC-CUL4B and PLOC-CUL4B + siRNA-u03b2-catenin groups ... B, the cell invasion ability in each group examined by Transwell assay . ![file] For comparison, Invasion images from Fig 11 A,B of [Liao et al (2018)] .  Abilities of cell migration and invasion of U251 and T98G cells after transfection in each group. Note: A, U251 cells; B, T98G cells . ![file] Panels do not match exactly, causing the suspicion that cells have been added or removed from one or the other version. ![file] , 
 Fig 11A  Figure 11 Effect of different CUL4B expression levels on PC liver metastasis in nude mice Note: A, comparison of tumor formation and weight of the tumor in nude mice 4 weeks later . ![file] Same tumors appear in Figure 14B from [Lu et al (2018)] . ![] and Fig 7C of [Wen et al (2017)] . ![] , 
 Dear hoya Camphorifolia , Thank you for your attention,sorry for late reply. After seeing your comments, attach great importance to your opinion, we have been investigating and checking our raw data, hoping to find the reason, so it took some time to reply , I am very sorry. Our article was submitted on May 08,2017, although Although liao et al(2018) ,lu et al(2018) and wen et al(2017)similar pictures appeared after this,howsoever, this is that due to our negligence in our work. Some raw data may have been leaked by accident or unknown reasons, We apologize for the great damage caused to the publication and readers. And,there are some faultiness in the inaccurate panel matching, related to our inadequate review and analysis, rush contribution submission. We will continue to improve our experimental research and hope to provide you with better research papers. Finally, please accept our sincere apology again. , 
 #3 [Wen, et al 2017] was submitted on [ 21 April 2017 ] , more than 2 weeks before your submission. Also noted that both Wen, et al 2017 and Lu, et al 2018 had sample images at a much higher resolution. , 
 dear Oeneis Buddha, thanks for your attention and reminder.we didn t notice Wen,et al 2017 s article when we submitted the manuscript,Whatever it is, it s our negligence,As a result of some of the original information leaked or due to unknown reasons, has been accidentally leaked,has caused enormous damage to publications and readers,We apologize! Finally, please accept our sincere apology again! , 
 #5 Thank you again for replying. If you maintain that your photos of the tumor samples were the original ones while those from other labs were potentially leaked copies from your lab, could you upload your original un-cropped high definition photos here to address the concerns? As a matter of fact, the journal editor may also request an original un-cropped high resolution copy of these photos to process the report they may have received regarding potentially problematic images in your paper. , 
 #1 Fig 10B again: ![] For comparison, Fig 5A of [Sun, Hu Xu (2018)] . ![] , 
 At left, Fig 2A,  positive expression of CUL4B and u03b2-catenin proteins detected by immunohistochemistry . At right, Fig 1A from [Zhang et al (2018)] ,  Positive expression of CUL4B protein in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent tissues . ![file] This comment was brought to you by the Department of Unexpected Similarities. , 
 Retracted [30 June 2021] . -------------------------------- The above article, published online on 23 December 2017 in Wiley Online Library has been retracted by agreement between 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. ,