Following the publication of this article [1], concerns were raised regarding results presented in Figs 3, 5, 7, 8, and S3. Specifically, the following panels appear similar:
Lanes 2–4 of the Fig 5C Atg5 panel and the Fig 8C Akt panel.
Lanes 2–5 of the Fig 3A p62 panel of this study [1] and the Fig 4A Ac-STAT3 panel of [2] when flipped horizontally.
The Fig 3D Tubulin panel of this study [1] and the Fig 4A STAT3 panel of [2].
The Fig5C Akt panel of this study [1] and lanes 2–5 of the Fig 7A p-STAT3 panel of [3].
Lanes 1–2 of the Fig 5C Akt panel of this study [1] and lanes 1–2 of the Fig 4C Adpn panel of [4].
The Fig 7C Akt panel of this study [1] and the Fig 4G PEPCK panel of [2].
The Fig 8C p62 panel of this study [1] and lanes 2–4 of the Fig 6B HpG2 Lysate p-STAT3 panel of [3].
Lanes 1–4 of the Fig S3A AMPK panel of this study [1] and the Fig 2D IRE1α panel of [5].
Lanes 2–5 of the Fig S3A AMPK panel of this study [1] and the Fig 2D p-PERK panel of [5].
The corresponding author commented that some western blot images were misused in this article [1] and requested the retraction of the article.
In light of the concerns affecting multiple figure panels that question the integrity of these data, the PLOS ONE Editors retract this article.
CW agreed with the retraction. FG, YD, YZhang, YZhou, and ML either did not respond directly or could not be reached.
References
- 1.Guan F, Ding Y, Zhang Y, Zhou Y, Li M, Wang C (2016) Curcumin Suppresses Proliferation and Migration of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells through Autophagy-Dependent Akt Degradation. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0146553. 10.1371/journal.pone.0146553 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Retracted]
- 2.Ding Y, Zhang D, Wang B, Zhang W, Wang L, Chen X, et al. (2016) APPL1-mediated activation of STAT3 contributes to inhibitory effect of adiponectin on hepatic gluconeogenesis. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 433: 12–19. 10.1016/j.mce.2016.05.021 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 3.Ding Y, Cao Y, Wang B, Wang L, Zhang Y, Zhang D, et al. (2016) APPL1-Mediating Leptin Signaling Contributes to Proliferation and Migration of Cancer Cells. PLoS ONE 11(11): e0166172. 10.1371/journal.pone.0166172 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Retracted]
- 4.Yang T, Liu H, Zhao B, Xia Z, Zhang Y, Zhang D, et al. (2017) adiponectin secretion in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Endocrine Journal 64(1): 15–26. 10.1507/endocrj.EJ16-0158 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 5.Yao X, Liu H, Zhang X, Zhang L, Li X, Wang C, et al. (2015) Cell Surface GRP78 Accelerated Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation and Migration by Activating STAT3. PLoS ONE 10(5): e0125634. 10.1371/journal.pone.0125634 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar] [Retracted]