ArticleFrontiers in genetics2025
Characterization of the phenotype and function of PRELP
Article in Frontiers in genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Integrative systems biology identifiesGastroenterology and hepatology from bed to bench · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Fibroblasts are critical mediators of tumor progression and metastasis; however, their heterogeneity and specific functions in the context of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases remain incompletely understood. Methods: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis on relevant tissue samples. Subsequently, we validated our findings using immunofluorescence assays on histological slides from primary CRC with liver metastasis (mCC) and liver metastatic tumors (mLC). Further investigations included transcriptomic profiling, pseudotime trajectory analysis, multiplex immunofluorescence staining, and cell-cell communication analysis. Results: Our scRNA-seq analysis identified a distinct PRELP-positive cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtype that is associated with liver metastasis and tumor progression. These PRELP+ CAFs were predominantly enriched in mLC, less abundant in mCC, and rare in non-metastatic CRC (nCC). This distribution was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Transcriptomically, PRELP+ CAFs exhibit a unique signature defined by extracellular matrix components (e.g., PRELP, COLEC11, ITGBL1) and the activation of pro-tumor pathways such as TGF-β and Wnt signaling. Pseudotime analysis indicated they represent a terminal fibroblast differentiation state. Spatially, they colocalize with immune cells (T cells, B cells, plasma cells), and communication analysis suggests they foster an immunosuppressive microenvironment via APP-CD74 and collagen-CD44 signaling, thereby promoting immune evasion. The transcription factors NR2F2, JUN, and JUND were identified as key regulators of this CAF subtype. Discussion: These findings provide crucial new insights into fibroblast heterogeneity within CRC liver metastases. We characterize PRELP+ CAFs as a specialized, terminally differentiated fibroblast population that contributes to immunosuppression and tumor progression, highlighting them as a potential therapeutic target for inhibiting metastatic advancement.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
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.