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[Retracted] p73 participates in WWOX-mediated apoptosis in leukemia cells
Donghong Lin1, Zhaolei Cui1, Lingying Kong2
1Department of Clinical Laboratory, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 35004, P.R. China.
Abstract:
Following the publication of the above article, a concerned reader drew the Editor's attention to the fact that, regarding the the western blot data shown in Fig. 4C on p. 853 for the Jurkat cell line, the p73 bands shown to portray the 72 and 96 h experiments for pGC‑FU‑WWOX were strikingly similar to the p73 bands shown to represent the 48 and 72 h experiments for pGC‑FU‑GFP. Upon assessing these data in the Editorial Office, it was concluded that the concerns of the reader were legitimate, suggesting that this figure may have been inappropriately edited. The Editor of International Journal of Molecular Medicine has therefore decided that the article should be retracted from the Journal on the grounds of an overall lack of confidence in the data. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a satisfactory reply. The Editor sincerely apologizes to the readership for any incovenience caused, and we thank the reader for drawing this matter to our attention. [International Journal of Molecular Medicine 31: 849-854, 2013; DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2013.1289].
Insights
This study was retracted due to concerns about western blot data manipulation. The p73 bands in Figure 4C showed suspicious similarities, leading to a lack of confidence in the published molecular medicine findings.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Scientific Publishing Ethics
Background:
- An article published in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine presented western blot data for Jurkat cell lines.
- Concerns were raised regarding the similarity of p73 bands between different experimental time points and constructs (pGC‑FU‑WWOX vs. pGC‑FU‑GFP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To address concerns regarding potential data manipulation in western blot results.
- To evaluate the integrity of the scientific data presented in the publication.
Main Methods:
- Review of western blot data presented in Figure 4C.
- Comparison of p73 band intensities and patterns across different experimental conditions.
- Assessment of reader-raised concerns by the Editorial Office.
Main Results:
- The p73 bands for 72 and 96 h experiments (pGC‑FU‑WWOX) were found to be strikingly similar to those for 48 and 72 h experiments (pGC‑FU‑GFP).
- The Editorial Office concluded that the reader's concerns were legitimate and the figure may have been inappropriately edited.
- Authors did not provide a satisfactory explanation for the observed data discrepancies.
Conclusions:
- The article is retracted due to a lack of confidence in the presented data.
- Scientific publishing ethics were compromised by potential data manipulation.
- Transparency and data integrity are crucial in scientific research.
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