Retraction: Hydrogen Sulfide Attenuated Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Inflammatory Signaling and Dysfunction in Vascular Endothelial Cells

After this article [1] was published, concerns were raised about Figs 3–7.

Specifically, when color levels are adjusted to visualize the backgrounds, the following concerns were identified:

• In Fig 3A, there appear to be vertical discontinuities in the background of the:

  • ○ ICAM-1 panel, between lanes 3 and 4.
  • ○ VCAM-1 panel, between lanes 1 and 2.
  • ○ Tubulin panel, between lanes 1/2 and 2/3.

• In the Fig 4B HO-1 panel, there appears to be a vertical discontinuity in the background between lanes 2 and 3.

• In Fig 5A, similarities were noted between the Control and TNF-a+NAC panels.

• In the Fig 6A ERK panel:

  • ○ Similarities were noted between bands in lanes 1 and 4.
  • ○ The background area around the band in lane 1 appears to be discontinuous with adjacent background areas.
  • ○ There appears to be a vertical discontinuity in the background between lanes 2 and 3.

• In Fig 6B, there appear to be vertical discontinuities in the background of the p-p38 panel between lanes 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and 4 and 5.

• In the Fig 6C JNK panel:

  • ○ Similarities were noted between bands in lanes 1 and 5.
  • ○ There appears to be a vertical discontinuity in the background between lanes 1 and 2.

• In the Fig 7C pp65 panel, there appears to be a vertical discontinuity in the background between lanes 1 and 2.

• In the Fig 7D p65 (C) panel, there appears to be a vertical discontinuity in the background between lanes 2 and 3.

The authors did not respond to correspondence concerning these issues.

In light of the nature and extent of the above concerns, the PLOS ONE Editors retract this article.

All authors either did not respond directly or could not be reached.