Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41196918›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Single-cell sequencing reveals the response mechanisms of vascular endothelial cells to glucocorticoids in diabetic retinopathy.

Lingda Wang, Rong Zhang, Lin Wang, Yongrui Wang, Xiaodan Zhang, Guohong Zhou

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Lingda WangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Eye Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Rong ZhangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Eye Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Lin WangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Eye Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Yongrui WangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Eye Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Xiaodan ZhangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Eye Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.
Guohong ZhouDepartment of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Eye Hospital Affiliated to Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7020-0790

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOne serious consequence of diabetes mellitus is diabetic retinopathy (DR), which impairs eyesight to the point of blindness. While glucocorticoid medications are commonly employed in the management of DR, their therapeutic efficacy requires enhancement. Due to the tight association between glucocorticoid-related genes and the onset and development of DR, a comprehensive examination of its root cause of activity may be able to overcome the drawbacks of existing treatment approaches.

methodsR programming tools were used to examine the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset GSE178121, which was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. To evaluate glucocorticoid activity, a gene set related to glucocorticoid phenotypes was sourced from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB), followed by the identification of key cellular populations within DR tissues. Subsequently, these key cells underwent pseudotime analysis, transcription factor (TF) evaluation, cell-cell communication assessment, differential gene screening, and the construction of a regulatory network.

resultsOur investigation demonstrated that vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in DR tissue exhibited markedly elevated glucocorticoid activity. KLF4 is among the TFs that are intimately linked to the onset of DR, and hydroxyurea could be a beneficial medication. Cell-cell communication analysis highlighted the PTN and ANGPTL signaling pathways as important signaling pathways in DR. In the meanwhile, we identified 25 Hub genes, including DUSP6, AP1S2, and PTPRB, which were verified to be differentially expressed in DR.

conclusionIn conclusion, our comprehensive study elucidated the complex interactions of glucocorticoids in the pathogenesis of DR, thereby revealing potential signaling pathways and therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

Diabetic RetinopathyEndothelial CellsGlucocorticoidsSingle-Cell AnalysisCell CommunicationGene Expression RegulationGene Regulatory NetworksHumansKruppel-Like Factor 4Signal TransductionTranscription FactorsGlucocorticoidsKLF4 protein, humanKruppel-Like Factor 4Transcription Factors

Identifiers

PMID41196918
PMCPMC12591416

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.