RETRACTED: Overexpression of miRNA-21 Promotes the Proliferation and Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Suppressing SMAD7

At the request of Sage and the Journal Editor, the following article has been retracted:

Wang Y, Zhang P, Yuan M, Li X. Overexpression of miRNA-21 Promotes the Proliferation and Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells vis Suppressing SMAD7. Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2019;18. doi: 10.1177/1533033819878686

Sage was made aware of concerns raised on PubPeer regarding the following figures in the article:

Figure 3A (GAPDH; Mock, Vector, and SMAD7) appears highly similar to Figure 2D (β-actin, 45kDa; Blank, si-MALAT1 NC, and si-MALAT1) in another publication¹

Figure 3A (SMAD7; Mock, Vector, and SMAD7) appears highly similar to Figure 4C (E-cadherin, 135 kDa; HG, HG+siNC, and HC+siPVT1) in another publication²

Figure 2D (HepG2.2.15; SMAD7; Mock, NC inhibitor, miRNA-21 inhibitor, and NC mimics) appears highly similar to Figure 5F (VCAM-1, 110 kDa; Normal, Normal + ADSCs, AS, and AS + ADSCs) in another publication³

Figure 2D (HepG2.2.15; GAPDH; NC inhibitor, miRNA-21 inhibitor, NC mimics, and miRNA-21 mimics) appears highly similar to Figure 5A (SCL-1; β-actin, 42 kD; Control, siRNA NC, siRNA 1, and siRNA 2) in another publication⁴

Additionally, during an internal investigation, Sage became aware of potential third-party involvement in this article.

The authors did not respond to requests for comments on these similarities.

Due to unresolved concerns about image integrity that call into question the validity of the findings, this article has been retracted.

The authors did not respond to the decision to retract.

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  Li, J., Zhao, Q., Jin, X., Li, Y., & Song, J. Silencing of LncRNA PVT1 inhibits the proliferation, migration and fibrosis of high glucose-induced mouse mesangial cells via targeting micro-RNA-93-5p. Bioscience Reports. 2020; 40(5). https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20194427

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  Fan, M., Bai, J., Ding, T., Yang, X., Si, Q., & Nie, D. Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Transplantation Inhibits Vascular Inflammatory Responses and Endothelial Dysfunction in Rats with Atherosclerosis. Yonsei Medical Journal. 2019; 60(11). https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2019.60.11.1036

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  Liu, P., Shi, L., Ding, Y., Luan, J., Shan, X., Li, Q., & Zhang, S. MicroRNA-766 Promotes The Proliferation, Migration And Invasion, And Inhibits The Apoptosis Of Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells By Targeting PDCD5. OncoTargets and Therapy. 2020; 2020(13). https://doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S222821