Expression of Concern: rapamycin, miR-30a and vascular smooth muscle cell senescence study
An Expression of Concern flags that two antibodies used in a western blot in this rapamycin/miR-30a vascular smooth muscle cell senescence paper may have been unsuitable; the authors' explanation is awaited. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
An interested reader alerted the Editor that a pair of unsuitable antibodies may have been used in the western blot in Fig. 1E on p. 1314. [1]
Antibody ab51243 is not specific for p16-INK4a but for a different protein with a similar name, p16-ARC. [1]
The Editorial Office contacted the authors for an explanation and is awaiting their response while it continues to investigate. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Expression of Concern (editorial notice)
- Population / context
- A published paper on rapamycin, miR-30a and senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 11, 2026
Reader query on two antibodies in Fig. 1E
After publication, an interested reader drew the Editor's attention to a possible problem: a pair of unsuitable antibodies may have been used in the western blot analysis shown in Fig. 1E on p. 1314. The Editorial Office issued the Expression of Concern to notify readers while it continues to investigate.
Supporting source [1]
p16-INK4a and β-galactosidase antibody concerns
The antibody with catalogue number ab51243 (Abcam) is not specific for p16-INK4a, the senescence-associated protein studied in the paper, but for a different protein with a similar name, p16-ARC. A concern was also raised about the anti-β-galactosidase antibody (cat. no. ab9361; Abcam): it is specific for the bacterial protein and only distantly related to human β-galactosidase by sequence, and it is not the closest homologue to bacterial β-galactosidase in the human proteome.
Supporting source [1]
Editorial Office awaiting authors' explanation
The Editorial Office contacted the authors to offer an explanation for selecting these apparently unsuitable antibodies for the western blot analysis and is awaiting their response. Because the Editorial Office has been made aware of a potential problem surrounding the design of these experiments, it issued the Expression of Concern while continuing to investigate.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an Expression of Concern based on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. It reports a potential antibody problem and an ongoing investigation, not a confirmed finding or retraction.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Tan P, Wang H, Zhan J, Ma X, Cui X, Wang Y, Wang Y, Zhong J, Liu Y. · europepmc.org · September 11, 2026