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Open Access

Retraction

Retraction: Role of Hepatitis C Virus Induced Osteopontin in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Migration and Invasion of Hepatocytes

  • The PLOS ONE Editors

Following publication of [1], concerns were noted in the following figures:

  • Fig 1B, the HCV NS5A panel lanes 4–7 appear similar to Fig 3C panel HCV core lanes 2–5 in a 2010 Journal of General Virology article [2], Fig 1A ASC panel in a 2016 Journal of Biological Chemistry article [5] and Fig 7B Albumin panel in a PLOS ONE article by the same authors [6]. The 2016 Journal of Biological Chemistry article has been withdrawn [7] and the PLOS ONE article has been retracted [8].
  • In discussing this matter, the authors notified the journal that Fig 2A, Huh7.5+NS5A panel is incorrect. This panel appears similar to Fig 7E Huh7.5+NS5A in a 2013 Journal of Biological Chemistry article [3] by the same authors which has been withdrawn [4].

The authors have provided image data for Fig 1B as well as replacement images for Figs 1B and 2A which represent replication experiments. However, these data did not resolve the potential image reuse across publications.

The original image underlying published Fig 2A is unavailable, however all other primary data underlying the figures are available from the authors. Given the unresolved concerns surrounding Figs 1B and 2A as well as repeated re-use of these images in multiple publications that call into question the validity of the study findings, the PLOS ONE editors retract this article.

GW did not agree with retraction. JI, SM, TM, KB, and MSD did not respond.

Owing to the concerns about similarities with previously published content [2–5, 7] that is not licensed for reproduction and distribution under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, Fig 1B HCV NS5A panel, Fig 2A Huh7.5+NS5A panel have been removed from the retracted article [1].

References

  1. 1. Iqbal J, McRae S, Mai T, Banaudha K, Sarkar-Dutta M, Waris G. Role of Hepatitis C Virus Induced Osteopontin in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Migration and Invasion of Hepatocytes. PLoS ONE 2014; 9(1): e87464. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087464 pmid:24498111
  2. 2. Burdette D, Olivarez M, Waris G (2010) Activation of transcription factor Nrf2 by hepatitis C virus induces the cell-survival pathway. J. Gen. Virol. 91, 681–690. pmid:19889935
  3. 3. Iqbal J, McRae S, Banaudha K, Mai T, Waris G (2013) Mechanism of HCV-induced Osteopontin and its role in epithelial to mesenchymal transition of hepatocytes. J Biol Chem 288: 36994–37009 pmid:24240095
  4. 4. Iqbal J, McRae S, Banaudha K, Mai T, Waris G (2018) Withdrawal: Mechanism of HCV-induced Osteopontin and its role in epithelial to mesenchymal transition of hepatocytes. J Biol Chem 293: 20010 http://www.jbc.org/content/293/52/20010 pmid:30593531
  5. 5. McRae S, Iqbal J, Sarkar-Dutta M, Lane S, Nagaraj A, Ali N, Waris G (2016) The Hepatitis C Virus-induced NLRP3 Inflammasome activates the Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein (SREBP) and Regulates Lipid Metabolism. J Biol Chem 291: 3254–3267 pmid:26698881
  6. 6. Presser LD, McRae S, Waris G. Activation of TGF-β1 Promoter by Hepatitis C Virus-Induced AP-1 and Sp1: Role of TGF-β1 in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Invasion. PLoS ONE 2013; 8(2): e56367. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056367 pmid:23437118
  7. 7. McRae S, Iqbal J, Sarkar-Dutta M, Lane S, Nagaraj A, Ali N, Waris G (2018) Withdrawal: The Hepatitis C Virus-induced NLRP3 Inflammasome activates the Sterol Regulatory Element-binding Protein (SREBP) and Regulates Lipid Metabolism. J Biol Chem 293(52): 20011 http://www.jbc.org/content/293/52/20011 pmid:30593532
  8. 8. The PLOS ONE Editors. Retraction: Activation of TGF-β1 Promoter by Hepatitis C Virus-Induced AP-1 and Sp1: Role of TGF-β1 in Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Invasion. PLoS ONE. 2019; 14(4):e216025. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216025

Citation: The PLOS ONE Editors (2019) Retraction: Role of Hepatitis C Virus Induced Osteopontin in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition, Migration and Invasion of Hepatocytes. PLoS ONE 14(4): e0216026. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216026

Published: April 30, 2019

Copyright: © 2019 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.