Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41665828›Full record

ArticleInflammation2026

Combining Spatial Transcriptomics and Machine Learning Unravels Fibroblast-Related Biomarkers in Ulcerative Colitis.

Kuo Kang, Xuanxuan Li, Shalong Wang, Changhao Huang, Zhiwei Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Inflammation, 2026. 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

5 authors.

Kuo KangDepartment of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
Xuanxuan LiDepartment of Oncology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
Shalong WangDepartment of General Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
Changhao HuangHunan Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China. Chhuang@csu.edu.cn.
Zhiwei WuHunan Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumor, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China. zhiweiwu@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82302972Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province 2024JJ6663
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by persistent mucosal inflammation. While fibroblasts contribute to tissue repair and fibrosis, their role in UC pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE114374, GSE231993) and cell-cell communication analysis were performed to profile fibroblast interactions. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified fibroblast-related modules. Machine learning models predicted diagnostic biomarkers. IF, ELISA and WB assays were used to validate the expression of ANGPTL2 in UC samples. In vivo validation using a DSS-induced UC mouse model evaluated ANGPTL2 expression and therapeutic response to GDC-0152. Spatial transcriptomics (GSE189184) was used to analyze tissue regionalization, cell-type spatial distribution, and the localized expression of ANGPTL2 and its colocalization with fibroblasts. Single-cell analysis identified fibroblasts as a key cell type in UC. WGCNA revealed a strong correlation between the turquoise module and fibroblast infiltration, with genes in this module enriched in pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and TNF signaling. Machine learning models identified PHLDA1 and ANGPTL2 as potential biomarkers with high diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.935 and 0.917, respectively). Furthermore, exprimental analyses confirmed that ANGPTL2 was significantly upregulated in fibroblasts from UC patients, serum ELISA experiments demonstrated that ANGPTL2 was also significantly elevated in the serum of UC patients, supporting its potential as a non-invasive diagnostic indicator. In vivo experiments confirmed ANGPTL2 upregulation in DSS-treated mice, reversed by GDC-0152. Spatial transcriptomics partitioned UC tissue into 13 distinct regions, revealing prominent fibroblast distribution and markedly high ANGPTL2 expression with significant spatial colocalization with fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are central to UC pathogenesis, contributing to inflammation and fibrosis. ANGPTL2 is a promising diagnostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in UC.

Indexed as

Angiopoietin-like ProteinsColitis, UlcerativeFibroblastsMachine LearningAngiopoietin-Like Protein 2AnimalsBiomarkersHumansMiceSpatial TranscriptomicsAngiopoietin-Like Protein 2Angiopoietin-like ProteinsANGPTL2 protein, humanAngptl2 protein, mouseBiomarkersANGPTL2FibroblastsMachine learningUlcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID41665828
PMCPMC12932295

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.