Scientists Uncover Hidden Switch in Cell Death Pathways

Researchers at Genentech's Department of Physiological Chemistry have made a correction to a study published in the journal Nature in 2019. The study, titled "Activity of caspase-8 determines plasticity between cell death pathways," aimed to explore the relationship between cell death and immune response. However, due to a figure preparation error, the original article contained an incorrect image in the lower-right panel of Extended Data Fig. 7e. According to the correction, the image shown in the lower-right panel of Extended Data Fig. 7e for the Casp8 cKI Mlkl KO vav.cre dot plot was an inadvertent duplicate of the adjacent dot plot (Mlkl KO vav.cre). The figure legend to Extended Data Fig. 7eg also required correction. The revised Extended Data Fig. 7, panel e, is now available as Supplementary Information alongside this amendment. The study's authors, Kim Newton, Katherine E. Wickliffe, Allie Maltzman, and Debra L. Dugger, acknowledged the error and took steps to correct it. "We appreciate the opportunity to correct this mistake and ensure the accuracy of our research," said Newton. "Our study aimed to understand the complex relationship between cell death and immune response, and we are committed to providing the most accurate information possible." The study's findings have significant implications for the field of cell death and immune response. Researchers have long been interested in understanding the mechanisms underlying cell death, particularly in the context of immune response. The study's results suggest that caspase-8 plays a crucial role in determining the plasticity between cell death pathways. The correction serves as a reminder of the importance of accuracy in scientific research. "Scientific research is built on the foundation of trust and accuracy," said a spokesperson for Nature. "We appreciate the authors' commitment to correcting this error and ensuring the integrity of their research." The study's findings have the potential to impact various fields, including cancer research and immunology. Researchers are eager to build on the study's results and explore the implications for human health. As the scientific community continues to study the complex relationship between cell death and immune response, the correction serves as a reminder of the importance of accuracy and attention to detail. The correction has been published online, and the revised Extended Data Fig. 7, panel e, is available as Supplementary Information. The study's authors have expressed their commitment to providing accurate information and continuing their research in this area.