Retraction of: Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 plays a vital role in endothelial colony forming cells differentiation

This is a retraction of: Yimeng Song, Xiaoxia Li, Dawei Wang, Chenglai Fu, Zhenjiu Zhu, Ming-Hui Zou, Yi Zhu, Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 plays a vital role in endothelial colony forming cells differentiation, Cardiovascular Research, Volume 99, Issue 3, 1 August 2013, Pages 514–524, https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvt113

After concerns about Figure 5A in this article were raised on PubPeer and by a reader, the journal published a Corrigendum and replaced Figure 5.¹ After additional concerns about Figure 5 were raised by a reader in 2022, the journal re-opened their investigation and published an Expression of Concern in 2023.² The institution of one of the corresponding authors investigated further and its findings support concerns regarding image manipulation. The Editors are ultimately retracting this article due to these concerns, which have undermined their confidence in the published research.

¹ Corrigendum to: Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 plays a vital role in endothelial colony forming cells differentiation, Cardiovascular Research, Volume 116, Issue 5, 1 April 2020, Page 955, https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvz293

² Expression of Concern: Transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 plays a vital role in endothelial colony forming cells differentiation, Cardiovascular Research, Volume 120, Issue 4, March 2024, Page 433, https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvad134