Retraction: GQ5 Hinders Renal Fibrosis in Obstructive... : Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (original) (raw)

Basic Research

Retraction: GQ5 Hinders Renal Fibrosis in Obstructive Nephropathy by Selectively Inhibiting TGF-_β_–Induced Smad3 Phosphorylation

Ai, Jun*; Nie, Jing*; He, Jiangbo†; Guo, Qin*; Li, Mei*; Lei, Ying*; Liu, Youhua*; Zhou, Zhanmei*; Zhu, Fengxin*; Liang, Min*; Cheng, Yongxian†; Hou, Fan Fan*

*State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Disease, and Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; and

†State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China

Correspondence: Dr. Fan Fan Hou, Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, 1838 North Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou 510515, People’s Republic of China; or Dr. Yongxian Cheng, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China. Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

J.A. and J.N. contributed equally to this work.

Received April 14, 2014

Accepted September 29, 2014

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Abstract

TGF-_β_1, via Smad-dependent or Smad-independent signaling, has a central role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. This pathway has been recognized as a potential target for antifibrotic therapy. Here, we identified GQ5, a small molecular phenolic compound isolated from the dried resin of Toxicodendron vernicifluum, as a potent and selective inhibitor of TGF-_β_1–induced Smad3 phosphorylation. In TGF-_β_1–stimulated renal tubular epithelial cells and interstitial fibroblast cells, GQ5 inhibited the interaction of Smad3 with TGF-β type I receptor (T_β_RI) by blocking binding of Smad3 to SARA, suppressed subsequent phosphorylation of Smad3, reduced nuclear translocation of Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4, and downregulated the transcription of major fibrotic genes such as _α_-smooth muscle actin (_α_-SMA), collagen I, and fibronectin. Notably, intraperitoneal administration of GQ5 in rats immediately after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) selectively inhibited Smad3 phosphorylation in UUO kidneys, suppressed renal expression of _α_-SMA, collagen I, and fibronectin, and resulted in impressive renal protection after obstructive injury. Late administration of GQ5 also effectively attenuated fibrotic lesions in obstructive nephropathy. In conclusion, our results suggest that GQ5 hinders renal fibrosis in rats by selective inhibition of TGF-_β_1–induced Smad3 phosphorylation.

Erratum

Ai, Jun; Nie, Jing; He, Jiangbo; Guo, Qin; Li, Mei; Lei, Ying; Liu, Youhua; Zhou, Zhanmei; Zhu, Fengxin; Liang, Min; Cheng, Yongxian; Hou, Fan Fan. GQ5 Hinders Renal Fibrosis in Obstructive Nephropathy by Selectively Inhibiting TGF-_β_–Induced Smad3 Phosphorylation. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015; 26(8):1827–1838. doi:10.1681/ASN.2014040363.

At the request of the authors and after careful internal review, the above article published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has been retracted. It has been brought to the authors' attention that a number of errors had been made during the final assembly of the images from different groups in this article. Specifically, some images of immunostaining in Figures 2E and 4A of the article were mistakenly duplicated. Western blot bands in Figure 5, E and F were mispresented in a later publication (Zhou et al., PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162873). The authors believe a retraction is an appropriate correction to the published record.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 35(4):517, April 2024.