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Retraction

Retraction: Berberine Improves Kidney Function in Diabetic Mice via AMPK Activation

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Concerns have been raised that images presented in Figures 1 and 2 of this PLOS ONE article [1] are similar to images in other published works. Several of the figure legends and labels indicate that the images showing similarities represent different experiments.

Figure 2A AMPK Western blot in [1] is similar to the following:

  • Figure 6b GAPDH panel in [2]
  • Figure 5B GAPDH panel in [3]
  • Figure 6B GAPDH panel in [4]
  • Figure 1d AMPK panel in [5]
  • Figure 1E AMPK panel in [6]
  • Figure 3A GAPDH panel in [7]
  • Figure 2B AMPK panels in [8]
  • Figure 6C AMPK panel in [8]

Figure 2A P-AMPK Western blot in [1] is similar to the following:

  • Figure 1E P-AMPK panel in [6]
  • Figure 3A p27 kip1 panels in [7]
  • Figure 2A P-AMPK panel in [8]

Figure 2A LKB1 Western blot in [1] is similar to the following:

  • Figure 5C Occludin panel in [3]
  • Figure 3a iNOS panel in [5]
  • Figure 2A LKB1 panels in [8]

Figures 1A, 1B and 1C, including Western blots and charts, appear similar in [1] and [8].

Figure 2B P-AMPK and AMPK Western blots in [1] are similar to Figure 2B P-AMPK and AMPK panels, respectively, in [8].

Additionally, there is duplication of some text between the Results section of the PLOS ONE article [1] and the Results sections of [5–8].

The authors have stated that the Western blots for this article were performed by an external company. Following evaluation of the issues identified and the information provided by the authors, the concerns about the data reported in the article remain. In light of the concerns about the integrity of the data and text overlap, the PLOS ONE Editors retract this article. The corresponding author regrets this situation and extends his apology to the scientific community.

We notified the authors’ institution and all co-authors of this retraction. GJG, LZ agreed with the retraction. LNS, HBN, XLW did not respond.

References

  1. 1. Zhao L, Sun L-N, Nie H-B, Wang X-L, Guan G-J (2014) Berberine Improves Kidney Function in Diabetic Mice via AMPK Activation. PLoS ONE 9(11): e113398. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113398 pmid:25409232
  2. 2. Yu H-Y, Cai Y-B, Liu Z. Activation of AMPK improves lipopolysaccharide-induced dysfunction of the blood–brain barrier in mice. Brain Injury. 2015;29: 777–784. pmid:25794165
  3. 3. Zhao Z, Hu J, Gao X, Liang H, Liu Z. Activation of AMPK attenuates lipopolysaccharide-impaired integrity and function of blood–brain barrier in human brain microvascular endothelial cells. Experimental and Molecular Pathology. 2014;97: 386–392. pmid:25220346
  4. 4. Hu M, Liu B. Resveratrol attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced dysfunction of blood-brain barrier in endothelial cells via AMPK activation. The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology. 2016;20: 325–332. Retraction in: Hu M, Liu B. The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology. 2017;21(2): 277. pmid:27382348
  5. 5. Yang Y, Zhao Z, Liu Y, Kang X, Zhang H, Meng M. Suppression of oxidative stress and improvement of liver functions in mice by ursolic acid via LKB1-AMP-activated protein kinase signaling. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2015;30: 609–618. pmid:25168399
  6. 6. Jiang Y, Lei J, Feng F, Liang Q, Wang F. Probucol suppresses human glioma cell proliferation in vitro via ROS production and LKB1-AMPK activation. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2014;35: 1556–1565. pmid:25399650
  7. 7. Fan G-H, Wang Z-M, Yang X, Xu L-P, Qin Q, Zhang C, et al. Resveratrol Inhibits Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma Cell Proliferation via AMP-activated Protein Kinase Signaling. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2014;15: 677–682. Retraction in: Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2017;18(10): 2895. pmid:24568477
  8. 8. Hu M, Liu B. Resveratrol via activation of LKB1-AMPK signaling suppresses oxidative stress to prevent endothelial dysfunction in diabetic mice. Clinical and Experimental Hypertension. 2016;38: 381–387. pmid:27149559

Citation: The PLOS ONE Editors (2017) Retraction: Berberine Improves Kidney Function in Diabetic Mice via AMPK Activation. PLoS ONE 12(12): e0190562. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190562

Published: December 28, 2017

Copyright: © 2017 The PLOS ONE Editors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.