Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42816476›Full record

ReviewSignal transduction and targeted therapy2026

Cell differentiation-related signaling pathways: biological functions, diseases and therapeutic targets.

Ze Xiang, Jiarui Li, Yunyang Xu, Chenhao Xu, Shuhui Li, Shusen Zheng, Zhe Yang, Xuyong Wei, Xiao Xu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Signal transduction and targeted therapy, 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

9 authors.

Ze Xiang *Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Jiarui Li *Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Yunyang Xu *Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5288-3365
Chenhao Xu *Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Shuhui LiZhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Shusen ZhengDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Zhejiang Shuren University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1459-8261
Zhe YangDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Zhejiang Shuren University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. yangzhe_0201730@163.com.
Xuyong WeiDepartment of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China. 1315009@zju.edu.cn.
Xiao XuHepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. njxu@njmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cell differentiation, the process by which stem cells acquire specialized functions, underpins embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and regeneration. This process is governed by evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways, including Wnt, Notch, Hedgehog, TGF-β, and Hippo, which integrate extracellular cues with intrinsic genetic programs to determine cell fate. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular architecture of these pathways, spanning ligand-receptor interactions to downstream transcriptional regulation. We further highlight multilayered regulatory mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications, non-coding RNAs, feedback loops, and pathway crosstalk that fine-tune signaling outputs to ensure spatiotemporal precision in fate decisions. We also discuss how tissue-specific contexts and interactions among these pathways generate distinct differentiation outcomes in different organs and disease settings. Dysregulation of these networks contributes to diverse pathological states, driving uncontrolled proliferation in cancer, maladaptive remodeling in cardiovascular disease, neuronal loss in neurodegeneration, metabolic imbalance, digestive dysfunction, chronic inflammation in respiratory and autoimmune diseases, and skeletal disorders. Reflecting their clinical importance, we also summarize recent therapeutic advances, including small-molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, gene-based strategies, and pathway-modulating compounds, which target these pathways to restore normal cellular function. Particular attention is given to distinguishing preclinical findings from clinical applications and to the translational challenges of pathway-targeted therapies. Collectively, this review underscores the central role of differentiation-related signaling in health and disease and highlights emerging opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Indexed as

Cell DifferentiationNeoplasmsSignal TransductionAnimalsEpigenesis, GeneticHumansReceptors, NotchReceptors, Notch

Identifiers

PMID42816476
PMCPMC13627654

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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.