%0 Figure %A Schneider, Leonid %D 2015 %T Fig 3 Saumet et al, as submitted by Charles-Henri-Lecellier in 2008 %U https://figshare.com/articles/figure/Fig_3_Saumet_et_al_as_submitted_by_Charles_Henri_Lecellier_in_2008/1547916 %R 10.6084/m9.figshare.1547916.v1 %2 https://ndownloader.figshare.com/files/2270026 %K scientific misconduct %K misconduct %K data manipulation %K Molecular Biology %K Cell Biology %X

The originally submitted Figure 3 contains real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) data for the miRNA expression in cells of 3 different leukemia patients. When compared to the Figure 4 in the published paper, one quickly notices that certain selected qRT-PCR values inside presented experiments have been changed. Yet only some of the values have been changed (often very dramatically), while others remained exactly the same. Precisely, the modifications were made to four out of five panels (Fig 4 C, E, and G, but not D), and affected only two to four values out of the 15 presented in each panel.These values are labelled with arrows here.

During the peer review, “Referee 2” has criticised the data from the patient samples as containing „significant variability", mentioning that "primary APL cultures are unstable and often associated with significant number of dying cells". To that, Lecellier has replied in the rebuttal letter: "The Figure 3 has been modified (new Figure 4). We hope that these modifications now improve the interpretation of the data. We acknowledge the existence of variability in our RT-qPCRs. As suggested by the referee, statistical analyses and additional RT-qPCRs have been performed". 

The Lecellier/Vetter case is reported in detail in my article "French Connection" in Lab Times 5/2015

 

Authors listed on the submission:

Characterization of microRNA genes repressed by PML-RARA in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Anne Saumet 1 , Guillaume Vetter 2 , Manuella Bouttier 3 , Elodie Portales-Casamar 4 , Wyeth
Wasserman 4 , Thomas Maurin 5 , Bernard Mari 5 , Pascal Barbry 5 , Laurent Vallar 6 , Evelyne
Friederich 2 , Khalil Arar 7 , Bruno Cassinat 8 , Christine Chomienne 8 and Charles-Henri
Lecellier 3

1 Human Genetics Institute, CNRS UPR1142, Montpellier, France 2 University of
Luxembourg, 3 Molecular Genetics Institute of Montpellier, CNRS UMR5535-IFR122,
Montpellier, France 4 University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 5 Institut de
Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR6097 CNRS/UNSA, Sophia Antipolis, France,
6 CRP-Santé, Luxembourg, 7 Sigma-Proligo, Evry, France, 8 Institut Universitaire
d’Hématologie, Hôpital St Louis, Paris, France.

 

%I figshare