Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41898693›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

CD109 Deletion Promotes Myofibroblast Differentiation and Smad-Dependent Matrix Accumulation in Skin Fibrosis.

Liqin Xu, Setareh Garousi, Adel Batal, Kenneth W Finnson, Anie Philip

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Liqin XuDivision of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada.
Setareh GarousiDivision of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada.
Adel BatalDivision of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada.ORCID 0009-0001-3674-5042
Kenneth W FinnsonDivision of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada.
Anie PhilipDivision of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1A4, Canada.

Funding

CIHR RN442412Department of Defense Investigator-Initiated Research Award PR120164
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Skin fibrosis is characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, leading to tissue dysfunction and scarring. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is a central mediator of fibrosis. We previously identified CD109 as a TGF-β co-receptor and negative regulator of TGF-β signaling and fibrotic responses and showed that its epidermal overexpression reduces dermal fibrosis in vivo. However, the effects of CD109 loss in the dermis remain unclear. The current study investigates the impact of CD109 knockout (KO) on skin fibrosis using a bleomycin-induced fibrosis mouse model. Following bleomycin treatment, CD109 KO mice showed increased collagen I deposition and elevated fibronectin, CCN2, and α-smooth muscle actin expression in the skin, indicating enhanced ECM production and myofibroblast differentiation compared with wild-type mice. Additionally, CD109 KO mice displayed enhanced Smad1 and Smad2/3 phosphorylation in the skin, indicating heightened TGF-β signaling. In vitro, CD109 KO fibroblasts exhibited increased TGF-β-induced migration and collagen contraction. These findings suggest that CD109 deficiency exacerbates dermal fibrosis by promoting TGF-β/Smad signaling and myofibroblast activation. Given its dysregulation in fibrotic disorders such as scleroderma, our results identify CD109 as a key regulator of skin homeostasis by modulating ECM production and fibroblast activation, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target in fibrotic disorders.

Indexed as

Cell DifferentiationExtracellular MatrixMyofibroblastsNeoplasm ProteinsSkinSkin DiseasesSmad ProteinsAnimalsAntigens, CDBleomycinDisease Models, AnimalFibroblastsFibrosisGPI-Linked ProteinsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLAntigens, CDBleomycinCD109 protein, mouseGPI-Linked ProteinsNeoplasm ProteinsSmad ProteinsTransforming Growth Factor betaCD109mouse modelsclerodermaskin fibrosisTGF-β signaling

Identifiers

PMID41898693
PMCPMC13026721

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.