Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39955307›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Identification of Meibomian gland stem cell populations and mechanisms of aging.

Xuming Zhu, Mingang Xu, Celine Portal, Yvonne Lin, Alyssa Ferdinand, Tien Peng, Edward E Morrisey, Andrzej A Dlugosz, Joseph M Castellano, Vivian Lee and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Xuming Zhu *Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1148-4162
Mingang Xu *Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
Celine PortalDepartment of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1862-0166
Yvonne LinDepartment of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4598-1696
Alyssa FerdinandBlack Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
Tien PengDepartment of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2226-4635
Edward E MorriseyDepartment of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Andrzej A DlugoszDepartment of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9791-3257
Joseph M CastellanoBlack Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8026-6292
Vivian LeeDepartment of Ophthalmology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4470-0143
John T SeykoraDepartment of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
Sunny Y WongDepartment of Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Carlo IominiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21231, USA. ciomini1@jhmi.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6483-9540
Sarah E MillarBlack Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA. sarah.millar@mssm.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8792-6890

Funding

XenograftP30CA046592 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Gary D Luker · 1988 to 2026
$178.2M
Study Design and Data AnalysisP30AR069589 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI Elizabeth Anne Grice · 2016 to 2026
$8.6M
University of Michigan Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based CenterP30AR075043 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Johann Eli Gudjonsson · 2019 to 2026
$6.6M
Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center at Mount SinaiP30AR079200 · NIAMS · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI Elena Ezhkova · 2021 to 2026
$5.2M
The Hair Follicle Infundibulum: A Potential Mediator of Skin Barrier FunctionR01AR065409 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI Sunny Y Wong · 2014 to 2026
$3.8M
WNT signals in skin and hair development and hair growthR37AR047709 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI MILLAR, SARAH E. · 2012 to 2021
$3.6M
Molecular mechanisms controlling skin heterogeneityR01AR081322 · NIAMS · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · PI Sarah E. Millar · 2022 to 2026
$3.0M
Elucidating signaling networks in Anterior Segment development, repair and diseasesR01EY035337 · NEI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI Carlo Iomini · 2023 to 2026
$1.6M
Functional and therapeutic roles of the Hedgehog signaling in meibomian glands development, renewal and dysfunctionR01EY036135 · NEI · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI Carlo Iomini · 2024 to 2026
$1.3M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA046592NEI NIH HHS R01 EY035337NEI NIH HHS R01 EY036135NIAMS NIH HHS P30 AR069589NIAMS NIH HHS P30 AR075043NIAMS NIH HHS P30 AR079200NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR065409NIAMS NIH HHS R01 AR081322NIAMS NIH HHS R37 AR047709U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Cancer Institute (NCI) P30CA046592U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Eye Institute (NEI) R01EY035337U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Eye Institute (NEI) R01EY036135U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) P30AR069589U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) P30AR075043U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) R01AR065409U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) R01AR081322U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) R37AR047709
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Meibomian glands secrete lipid-rich meibum, which prevents tear evaporation. Aging-related Meibomian gland shrinkage may result in part from stem cell exhaustion and is associated with evaporative dry eye disease, a common condition lacking effective treatment. The identities and niche of Meibomian gland stem cells and the signals controlling their activity are poorly defined. Using snRNA-seq, in vivo lineage tracing, ex vivo live imaging, and genetic studies in mice, we identify markers for stem cell populations that maintain distinct regions of the gland and uncover Hedgehog (Hh) signaling as a key regulator of stem cell proliferation. Consistent with this, we show that human Meibomian gland carcinoma exhibits increased Hh signaling. Aged glands display decreased Hh and EGF signaling, deficient innervation, and loss of collagen I in niche fibroblasts, indicating that alterations in both glandular epithelial cells and their surrounding microenvironment contribute to age-related degeneration. These findings suggest new approaches to treat aging-associated Meibomian gland loss.

Indexed as

AgingMeibomian GlandsStem CellsAnimalsCell ProliferationEpidermal Growth FactorEpithelial CellsFemaleFibroblastsHedgehog ProteinsHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSignal TransductionEpidermal Growth FactorHedgehog Proteins

Identifiers

PMID39955307
PMCPMC11830078

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.