ArticleNature communications2016
Endothelial to mesenchymal transition is common in atherosclerotic lesions and is associated with plaque instability.
Article in Nature communications, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 393 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
393 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 584 citations in OpenAlex.
- Integrative single-cell meta-analysis reveals disease-relevant vascular cell states and markers in human atherosclerosis.Cell reports · 2023Pooled it
- U-shaped association between plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) levels and myocardial infarction.BMC cardiovascular disorders · 2025Trial
- α7-nAChR Activation is Associated with Attenuation of Cardiac Fibrosis in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy via SIRT3-Dependent Modulation of EndMT.Journal of cardiovascular translational research · 2026Article
- A biphasic effect of alcohol on endothelial plasticity through regulation of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition.American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology · 2026Article
- Smooth Muscle Cell Plasticity as a Central Determinant of Plaque Stability.Current atherosclerosis reports · 2026Review
- Targeting super elongation complex-driven RNA polymerase II elongation reduces plaque vulnerability.Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 2026Article
- Vascular and lymphatic dysregulation via non-EndoMT Col2a1 signaling in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Mechanism of Shuangshen Xionglian Granule in Attenuating EndMT in Atherosclerosis via the FGFR1-TGF-β/Smad2 Axis.Molecular nutrition & food research · 2026Article
- USP5 Stabilizes TGFBR1 to Drive Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Senescence and Atherosclerosis.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- Endothelial cells modulate immune cell responses during atherosclerosis.Trends in immunology · 2026Review
- FAPI PET/CT in post-PCI coronary disease: in-stent restenosis characterization, MACE association, and limited short-term modulation by lipid-lowering therapy: FAPI athero trial.European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging · 2026Observational
- Review
- ERG preserves endothelial identity to limit atherosclerosis.Nature communications · 2026Article
- Context-dependent regulation of endothelial inflammation and atherosclerosis by endothelial microRNA-33.Atherosclerosis · 2026Article
- Vein graft failure: Pathophysiology, detection, prevention and emerging therapeutic strategies.Pharmacological reviews · 2026Review
- The Trojan Horse system composed of platelet membrane and extracellular vesicles inhibits atherosclerotic plaque progression.iScience · 2026Article
- VKORC1L1-mediated vitamin K recycling counters ferroptosis to promote endothelial repair.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Necroptosis is a key contributor to impaired cardiac repair following myocardial infarction.Cell death & disease · 2026Article
- DOT1L Drives Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Fibrotic Vascular Remodeling via H3K79 Methylation.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026Article
- EZH2 inhibition via GSK-126 mitigates EndMT and atherosclerosis in diabetes: A translational epigenetic approach.Science advances · 2026Article
333 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
21 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) plays a major role during development, and also contributes to several adult cardiovascular diseases. Importantly, mesenchymal cells including fibroblasts are prominent in atherosclerosis, with key functions including regulation of: inflammation, matrix and collagen production, and plaque structural integrity. However, little is known about the origins of atherosclerosis-associated fibroblasts. Here we show using endothelial-specific lineage-tracking that EndMT-derived fibroblast-like cells are common in atherosclerotic lesions, with EndMT-derived cells expressing a range of fibroblast-specific markers. In vitro modelling confirms that EndMT is driven by TGF-β signalling, oxidative stress and hypoxia; all hallmarks of atherosclerosis. 'Transitioning' cells are readily detected in human plaques co-expressing endothelial and fibroblast/mesenchymal proteins, indicative of EndMT. The extent of EndMT correlates with an unstable plaque phenotype, which appears driven by altered collagen-MMP production in EndMT-derived cells. We conclude that EndMT contributes to atherosclerotic patho-biology and is associated with complex plaques that may be related to clinical events.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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 OpenQuestion graph.