Editorial Note: Apoptosis by [Pt(<i>O,O′-</i>acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] requires PKC-δ mediated p53 activation in malignant pleural mesothelioma

After this article [1,2] was published, concerns were raised regarding Figs 3–5. Specifically,
- The following panels in Figs 3–5 appear to overlap with one another:
- The ZL34 β-actin panel of Fig 3A and the ZL55 β-actin panel of Fig 4A, when flipped horizontally.
- The ZL55 β-actin panel of Fig 3A and the ZL34 β-actin panel of Fig 4A, when flipped horizontally.
- Lanes 2-4 of the ZL55 Bcl-2 panel of Fig 3A and lanes 2-4 of the ZL34 cyt panel of Fig 5A, when stretched vertically.
- Lanes 1-2 of the ZL55 BAX panel of Fig 3A and lanes 2-3 of the PKC-α mem panel of Fig 5A, when stretched vertically.
- Lanes 1-2 of the p-JNK1/2 panels in Figs 5C and 5D.
- Lane 1 of the Bcl-2 panel in Fig 5C and lane 3 of the Bcl-2 panel in Fig 5D.
- The lower bands of lanes 2 and 5 of the Casp-9 panel of Fig 5C appear similar to each other.
- Similarities were noted between the backgrounds of lanes 2 and 6 in the ZL34 p-p38MAPK panel of Fig 3A.
- The ZL55 p-p38MAPK panel of Fig 4A appears to overlap with the [Pt(O,O′-acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] p38MAPK panel in Fig 5A of [3].
The corresponding author provided the original, underlying images for all panels of concern (S1 File). They further stated that the ZL55 p-p38MAPK panel in Fig 4A of [1] was intentionally reused from the [Pt(O,O′-acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] p38MAPK panel in Fig 5A of [3], as stated in the Ptac2S-induces MAPKs phosphorylation section of the Results, as the panels originated from the same time-course experiment examining the activation of p38MAPK in ZL55 cells following treatment with the platinum complex.
Following editorial review of the original, underlying images (provided here as S1 File), PLOS considers all the above concerns resolved.
In addition, contrary to the declaration in the Data Availability statement, the original raw data files supporting the article’s results were not provided with the article. The authors have provided the data as S2 File. With this notice, all relevant data are now provided.
Supporting information
S1 File. Original blots underlying all panels of concern within Figs 3–5.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0353725.s001
(ZIP)
S2 File. Original quantitative data underlying all Figs.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0353725.s002
(PDF)
References
- 1. Muscella A, Vetrugno C, Cossa LG, Antonaci G, Barca A, De Pascali SA, et al. Apoptosis by [Pt(O,O’-acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] requires PKC-δ mediated p53 activation in malignant pleural mesothelioma. PLoS One. 2017;12(7):e0181114. pmid:28704484
- 2. Muscella A, Vetrugno C, Cossa LG, Antonaci G, Barca A, De Pascali SA, et al. Correction: Apoptosis by [Pt(O,O’-acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] requires PKC-δ mediated p53 activation in malignant pleural mesothelioma. PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0193030. pmid:29432478
- 3. Muscella A, Vetrugno C, Cossa LG, Antonaci G, De Nuccio F, De Pascali SA, et al. In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activity of [Pt(O,O’-acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):e0165154. pmid:27806086
- 4. Antonaci G, Cossa LG, Muscella A, Vetrugno C, De Pascali SA, Fanizzi FP, et al. [Pt(O,O’-acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] Induces Autophagy in Caki-1 Renal Cancer Cells. Biomolecules. 2019;9(3):92. pmid:30845773
Citation: The PLOS One Editors (2026) Editorial Note: Apoptosis by [Pt(O,O′-acac)(γ-acac)(DMS)] requires PKC-δ mediated p53 activation in malignant pleural mesothelioma. PLoS One 21(7): e0353725. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0353725
Published: July 14, 2026
Copyright: © 2026 The PLOS One Editors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.