RETRACTED: miR-217 represses TGF-β1-induced airway smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration through targeting ZEB1

Abstract

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. The journal was alerted to several suspected image similarities within Figures 2C and 3B, between Figure 3B and 5E, and an image in Figure 3A appears to be present in another publication, as detailed here: https://pubpeer.com/publications/F4E8CA0032EF5375E7867504F3FC4A. These findings were confirmed as part of an internal investigation, and in addition, a portion of Figure 2C, ‘Scramble’ group appears to contain image similarities with Figure 5D ‘miR-217 mimic + ZEB1’ group. The journal requested the authors provide explanations and source data relating to these affected figures, but the Authors did not respond to these concerns. The Editor-in-Chief assessed this case and decided to retract the article.

Keywords: ASMC; Asthma; Proliferation and migration; TGF-β1; ZEB1; miR-217.