Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38916960›Full record

ArticleThe Journal of clinical investigation2024

SLC44A2 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and aortic aneurysm.

Tianyu Song, Shuang Zhao, Shanshan Luo, Chuansheng Chen, Xingeng Liu, Xiaoqi Wu, Zhongxu Sun, Jiawei Cao, Ziyu Wang, Yineng Wang and 13 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The Journal of clinical investigation, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
27citing 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

27 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Journal of thoracic disease · 2026
    Article
  3. USP5 Stabilizes TGFBR1 to Drive Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Senescence and Atherosclerosis.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Integrin Signaling Pathways in Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection.Reviews in cardiovascular medicine · 2026
    Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Review
  16. Review
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  18. Article
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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

23 authors.

Tianyu SongGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Shuang ZhaoGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Shanshan LuoGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Chuansheng ChenGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Xingeng LiuGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Xiaoqi WuGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Zhongxu SunGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Jiawei CaoGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Ziyu WangGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Yineng WangGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Bo YuState Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), and.
Zhiren ZhangState Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases (SKLFZCD), and.
Xiaolong DuDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
Xiaoqiang LiDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
Zhijian HanDepartment of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Hongshan ChenGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Feng ChenDepartment of Forensic Medicine, and.
Liansheng WangDepartment of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Hong WangCenter for Metabolic Disease Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Kangyun SunDepartment of Cardiology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Yi HanCritical Care Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Liping XieGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.
Yong JiGusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening disease with limited interventions that is closely related to vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switching. SLC44A2, a member of the solute carrier series 44 (SLC44) family, remains undercharacterized in the context of cardiovascular diseases. Venn diagram analysis based on microarray and single-cell RNA sequencing identified SLC44A2 as a major regulator of VSMC phenotypic switching in aortic aneurysm. Screening for Slc44a2 among aortic cell lineages demonstrated its predominant location in VSMCs. Elevated levels of SLC44A2 were evident in the aorta of both patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and angiotensin II-infused (Ang II-infused) Apoe-/- mice. In vitro, SLC44A2 silencing promoted VSMCs toward a synthetic phenotype, while SLC44A2 overexpression attenuated VSMC phenotypic switching. VSMC-specific SLC44A2-knockout mice were more susceptible to aortic aneurysm under Ang II infusion, while SLC44A2 overexpression showed protective effects. Mechanistically, SLC44A2's interaction with NRP1 and ITGB3 activates TGF-β/SMAD signaling, thereby promoting contractile gene expression. Elevated SLC44A2 in aortic aneurysm is associated with upregulated runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1). Furthermore, low-dose lenalidomide (LEN; 20 mg/kg/day) suppressed aortic aneurysm progression by enhancing SLC44A2 expression. These findings reveal that the SLC44A2-NRP1-ITGB3 complex is a major regulator of VSMC phenotypic switching and provide a potential therapeutic approach (LEN) for aortic aneurysm treatment.

Indexed as

Aortic Aneurysm, AbdominalMembrane GlycoproteinsMembrane Transport ProteinsMuscle, Smooth, VascularMyocytes, Smooth MuscleAngiotensin IIAnimalsAortic AneurysmHumansMaleMiceMice, KnockoutMice, Knockout, ApoEPhenotypeSignal TransductionAngiotensin IIMembrane GlycoproteinsMembrane Transport ProteinsSLC44A2 protein, humanCardiovascular diseaseSignal transductionVascular biology

Identifiers

PMID38916960
PMCPMC11324303

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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.