Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40491950›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in cell and developmental biology2025

Targeting fibroblasts in pathological bone formation: mechanisms and treatments.

Qianyu Zhang, Qimin Song, Zeyin Li, Xinyi Wu, Yuxiong Chen, Hui Lin

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing 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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Integrative Transcriptomic Profiling Delineates LTBP4-Driven Fibroblast Reprogramming Across the Ossification Continuum of the Ligamentum Flavum.FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 2026
    Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
  7. Review
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

6 authors.

Qianyu Zhang *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Qimin Song *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Zeyin LiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Xinyi WuSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Yuxiong ChenSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
Hui LinSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Fibroblasts are integral to the pathological processes underlying abnormal bone formation, including heterotopic ossification (HO), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). This review summarized the diverse roles of fibroblasts, from their transdifferentiation into osteoblast-like cells to their influence on inflammatory and mechanical signal transduction pathways, including those mediated by BMP, TGF-β, and Wnt/β-catenin. In particular, senescent fibroblasts can secrete Activin A to activate the BMP pathway to drive HO formation, and fibroblasts can also differentiate into osteoblasts via interactions among the TGF-β1, BMP-2, and FGF-2 pathways. In AS and OPLL, fibroblasts respond to inflammatory signals and mechanical stress, contributing to pathological bone formation through extracellular matrix remodeling and osteogenic gene expression. In rare cases, fibroblast-mediated abnormal ossification also occurs in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Therapeutic strategies targeting fibroblast signaling pathways, inflammation, and senescence are highlighted as potential interventions to mitigate these conditions.

Indexed as

ankylosing spondylitis (AS)fibroblastsheterotopic ossification (HO)ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL)pathological bone formation

Identifiers

PMID40491950
PMCPMC12146285

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.