Retraction Note: Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2020) 11:2 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-019-1492-6

The Editors-in-Chief have retracted this article after concerns were raised about potential image re-use between Fig. 4D and 5D and the potential partial overlap between Fig. 6A and Supplementary Fig. 4A. The authors were unable to provide raw data for Figs. 4 and 5. The raw images provided for Fig. 6A and Supplementary Fig. 4A contained further partial image overlaps between different experimental conditions. The authors were also unable to share evidence of ethics approval. Therefore, the Editors have lost confidence in the data presented here.

Yuanlin Song agrees to this retraction. Yun Feng and Xiaotong Yang do not agree to this retraction. Linlin Wang, Xiaoying Ma, Ocholi Don, Xiaoyan Chen and Jieming Qu have not responded to any correspondence from the editor/publisher about this retraction.