RETRACTED: Role of microRNA-15a-5p/Sox9/NF-κB axis in inflammatory factors and apoptosis of murine nucleus pulposus cells in intervertebral disc degeneration

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This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. Concerns were raised over the provenance of the flow cytometry plots in Figures 6G and 7F, as detailed here: https://pubpeer.com/publications/A46066C72A3E518DD6CA192362E0DC; and here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r0MyIYpagBc58BRF9c3luWNlCX8VUvUuPyYYXzxWvgY/edit#gid=262337249. In addition, a portion of Figure 2G, ‘miR-15a-5p antagomir’ group appeared to contain image similarities with Figure 2G, ‘Oe-NC’ group. The journal requested that the corresponding author comment on these concerns and provide the raw data. The authors did not respond to this request and therefore the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article.

Keywords: Inflammatory factor; Intervertebral disc degeneration; MicroRNA-15a-5p; Nuclear factor-κB; Sex determining region Y-box 9.