Evidence mapPaperPMID 40130513Full record

ArticleAging cell2025

BRD4/MAP2K7/PGF Signaling Axis Promotes Senescence and Extracellular Matrix Metabolism of Nucleus Pulposus Cells in Intervertebral Disk Degeneration.

Guangzhi Zhang, Lei Li, Zhili Yang, Zhenyu Cao, Xuchang Hu, Yonggang Wang, Xuewen Kang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Aging cell, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing 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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Guangzhi ZhangDepartment of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0003-3193-0297
Lei LiDepartment of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
Zhili YangDepartment of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
Zhenyu CaoDepartment of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
Xuchang HuDepartment of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
Yonggang WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China.
Xuewen KangDepartment of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, People's Republic of China.

Funding

Cuiying Scientific and Technological Innovation Program of The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University CY2022-ZD-02:CY2024-YB-A02Cuiying Scientific and Technological Innovation Program of The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University CY2024-MS-B01Education and Teaching Reform Research Project of The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School,Lanzhou University DELC-202412National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272536National Natural Science Foundation of China 82460436Natural Science Foundation of Gansu province 25JRRA626
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is a common age-related degenerative disease of the spine that imposes a substantial economic burden on both families and society. Despite substantial advances in understanding the mechanisms underlying IDD, effective therapeutic interventions for its treatment and prevention remain elusive. Our previous study identified a positive correlation between IDD severity and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) expression. However, the multifaceted role of BRD4 in IDD is still not fully understood. This study explored the abnormal elevation of BRD4 expression in nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues from patients with IDD and in an age-related rat model of IDD. We found that BRD4 levels were positively correlated with NP senescence and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and inversely correlated with ECM anabolism. These relationships were further confirmed through assays measuring senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, the expression of senescence markers P21 and P16, senescence-associated secretory phenotype indicators (IL-6, IL-8, MMP3, and MMP13), as well as ECM metabolism markers such as collagen II and aggrecan. Mechanistically, aberrant BRD4 expression was found to upregulate MAP2K7, which in turn enhances PGF expression, promoting NP cell senescence and ECM metabolism. These findings highlight the crucial role of the BRD4/MAP2K7/PGF signaling axis in cellular senescence and ECM regulation, suggesting that BRD4 represents a promising therapeutic target for IDD.

Indexed as

Cell Cycle ProteinsCellular SenescenceExtracellular MatrixIntervertebral Disc DegenerationNucleus PulposusTranscription FactorsAdultAnimalsBromodomain Containing ProteinsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRatsRats, Sprague-DawleySignal TransductionBRD4 protein, humanBromodomain Containing ProteinsCell Cycle ProteinsTranscription FactorsBRD4extracellular matrixintervertebral disk degenerationnucleus pulposussenescence

Identifiers

PMID40130513
PMCPMC12151915

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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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.