Mol Med Rep 18: 1692–1703, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.9087

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader that certain of the immunofluorescence assay data shown in Fig. 4A on p. 1698 were strikingly similar to data that had already been submitted for publication in different form in another article written by different authors at different research institutes. In addition, there was an instance of apparent duplication of western blot data comparing between Fig. 5A and 5G, and the reader also had concerns regarding the presentation of the flow-cytometry cell-count histograms in Fig. 2A.

Owing to the fact that the contentious data in the above article had already been submitted for publication elsewhere prior to its submission to Molecular Medicine Reports, the Editor has decided that this paper should be retracted from the Journal. The authors were asked for an explanation to account for these concerns, but the Editorial Office did not receive a reply. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused.