Abstract
Neonatal sepsis is an inflammatory system syndrome and a main cause of neonatal mortality. However, there is a lack of ideal biomarkers for early neonatal sepsis diagnosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of miR-141 in sepsis in neonates, and explore the regulatory effects of miR-141 on inflammation in monocytes. This study used qRT-PCR to calculate the expression of miR-141 in the serum of septic neonates. The diagnostic values of procalcitonin (PCT) and serum miR-141 were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The relationship between miR-141 and TLR4 was determined using luciferase reporter assay. An inflammation model was established using monocytes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. ELISA assay was used to analyze the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The expression of miR-141 in neonatal sepsis was significantly lower than healthy controls. ROC curves showed that miR-141 had diagnostic accuracy. LPS stimulation in monocytes led to a decrease in the expression of miR-141. A luciferase reporter assay proved that miR-141 targeted TLR4, and a negative correlation of miR-141 with TLR4 was found in septic neonates. ELISA results demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-141 inhibited LPS-induced inflammation in monocytes. In conclusion, serum decreased miR-141 expression served as a candidate diagnostic biomarker of neonatal sepsis. TLR4 is a target gene of miR-141, which may mediate the inhibitory effects of miR-141 overexpression on LPS-induced inflammation in monocytes. Therefore, miR-141 is expected to be a potential diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target in neonatal sepsis.
MicroRNA-141; Neonatal sepsis; Diagnosis; Inflammation; Monocytes; TLR4
Retraction notice for: Braz J Med Biol Res | doi: 10.1590/1414-431x2020e10603 | PMID: 34008755 | PMCID: PMC8130060
The authors requested retraction of the article “miR-141 is negatively correlated with TLR4 in neonatal sepsis and regulates LPS-induced inflammatory responses in monocytes” that was published in volume 54 no. 7 (2021) (Epub May 17, 2021) in the Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research.
The corresponding author stated the following: “In recent studies, we found that the previous cell experiments in the published article could not be replicated. As a result, we have doubts about the accuracy of our published results".
The Editors decided to retract this paper to avoid further damage to the scientific community. The Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research remains vigilant to prevent misconduct and reinforces the Journal’s commitment to good scientific practices.
Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
17 May 2021 -
Date of issue
2021
History
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Received
13 Aug 2020 -
Accepted
28 Dec 2020
