Evidence mapPaperPMID 41978270Full record

ArticleImmunity, inflammation and disease2026

Characterization of NLRP3 Inflammasome-Associated Hub Genes in the Progression of Diabetic Nephropathy.

Sheng Zhao, Yuejiao Li, Wenchuan Li, Lan Dong, Rong Lian, Qingqing Luo, Xingji Lian, Jianbo Li, Feng He

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Immunity, inflammation and disease, 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

9 authors.

Sheng ZhaoDepartment of Nephrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Yuejiao LiDepartment of Nephrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Wenchuan LiDepartment of Nephrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Lan DongDepartment of Nephrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Rong LianDepartment of Nephrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Qingqing LuoDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Xingji LianDepartment of Geriatrics, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.
Jianbo LiDepartment of Nephrology, Key Laboratory of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Ministry of Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Feng HeDepartment of Nephrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3207-1295

Funding

Guangdong Natural Science Foundation 2022B1515020106Guangdong Provincial Department of Science and Technology 202201020273Guangzhou Science and Technology 202201010166National Natural Science Foundation of China 81600654National Natural Science Foundation of China 82070752National Natural Science Foundation of China 82470748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is widely recognized as the primary cause of end-stage renal disease. However, the underlying mechanisms and pathogenesis of DN remain incompletely understood. Exploring novel biomarkers aiding in tracking the progression of DN has important clinical implications.

methodsHuman renal transcriptomic datasets (GSE142025 and GSE96804) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were analyzed. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using a staged analysis, which involved sequential comparisons between normal controls and early-stage DN, as well as between early DN (eDN) and advanced DN (aDN). Enrichment analysis of DEGs was performed using R software. WGCNA was utilized to construct gene co-expression networks and to identify the key genes. Then, Venn diagrams were generated using DEGs and key genes from both datasets to determine the final hub genes. ROC curves were then used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of hub genes for DN disease progression. Finally, we cross-validated the hub genes using the clinical kidney specimens.

resultsAfter analyzing the datasets, we identified 22 and 43 hub genes using the WGCNA and DEGs at the eDN and aDN stages. Further investigation of the literature on the hub genes led to the discovery of their association with the activity of NLRP3 inflammasome, including ZFP36, CLEC2D, and HCK, which were identified as NLRP3 inflammasome-associated hub genes (NIAHGs). We found that the AUC of all the NIAHGs can indicate their potential diagnostic value. Then, we validated the expression levels of NIAHGs in human renal tissues, which were consistent with those in both data sets. Importantly, immunoblot analysis indicated that NIAHGs expression was associated with NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Furthermore, NLRP3 inflammasome was significantly activated, leading to the release of large amounts of IL-1β and IL-18 in eDN, further initiating the inflammatory response in the diabetic kidney.

conclusionsOur findings identify critical hub genes associated with DN progression and NLRP3 inflammasome activity, providing a theoretical basis and candidate targets for subsequent research.

Indexed as

Diabetic NephropathiesInflammasomesNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinBiomarkersDisease ProgressionGene Expression ProfilingGene Expression RegulationGene Regulatory NetworksHumansKidneyTranscriptomeBiomarkersInflammasomesNLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 ProteinNLRP3 protein, humandiabetic nephropathyIL‐1βinflammationNLRP3WGCNA

Identifiers

PMID41978270
PMCPMC13076925

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.