Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39524772›Full record

ArticleHeliyon2024

Integrated bioinformatics analysis for identifying fibroblast-associated biomarkers and molecular subtypes in human membranous nephropathy.

Chuying Gui, Sidi Liu, Zhike Fu, Huijie Li, Di Zhang, Yueyi Deng

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Heliyon, 2024. 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

6 authors.

Chuying GuiThe Department of Nephrology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Sidi LiuThe Department of Nephrology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Zhike FuThe Department of Nephrology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Huijie LiThe Department of Nephrology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Di ZhangThe Department of Nephrology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
Yueyi DengThe Department of Nephrology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is characterized by immune complex deposition in the glomerular basement membrane, leading to proteinuria and potentially progressive renal dysfunction. Fibroblasts have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MN through their involvement in tissue remodeling and immune modulation. Methods: We employed integrated bioinformatics analyses to identify fibroblast-associated biomarkers and molecular subtypes in MN. The xCell algorithm was used to assess fibroblast infiltration, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified fibroblast-related gene modules. Differentially expressed fibroblast-associated genes (DEFAGs) were screened between MN and healthy controls (HC) using differential expression analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. Consensus clustering categorized MN patients into distinct subtypes based on DEFAG expression profiles. Results: Fibroblast scores were a significant elevation in MN compared to HC, indicating increased fibroblast involvement in MN pathogenesis. WGCNA identified 13 fibroblast-related gene modules, with the brown and turquoise modules showing strong correlation with fibroblast scores (correlation coefficient = 0.79 and 0.75, respectively, p < 0.01). DEFAG analysis revealed 308 genes overlapping between WGCNA and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MN. Consensus clustering identified two molecular subtypes (C1 and C2) based on DEFAG expression patterns, with differential gene expression enriching pathways related to immune response and extracellular matrix remodeling. Core biomarker analysis highlighted COL3A1 and TGFB1 as central genes associated with MN, with elevated expression validated across multiple datasets. Conclusion: Integrated bioinformatics analysis identified fibroblast-associated molecular subtypes in MN, revealing distinct immune profiles and biomarkers. COL3A1 emerged as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target, implicating its role in immune regulation and disease progression in MN.

Indexed as

BiomarkersFibroblastsIntegrated bioinformaticsMembranous nephropathyMolecular subtypes

Identifiers

PMID39524772
PMCPMC11546183

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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.