Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40073972›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced research2026

Discovery and identification of semaphorin 4D as a bioindicator of high fracture incidence in type 2 diabetic mice with glucose control.

Xuanchen Liu, Mo Wang, Bin Xu, Xue Ma, Yangzi Jiang, Hai Huang, Zengzeng Shi, Hao Wu, Zhigang Wu, Shuo Guo and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced research, 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. Review
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

18 authors.

Xuanchen LiuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China; Department of Nutrition, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Mo WangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Bin XuDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Xue MaDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032 Shaanxi, China.
Yangzi JiangSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Center for Neuromusculoskeletal Restorative Medicine, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Hai HuangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Zengzeng ShiDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Hao WuDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Zhigang WuDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Shuo GuoDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Jungang ZhaoDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Jian ZhaoDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Xiaokang LiDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Li LiangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Zheng GuoDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China.
Lei ShiDepartment of Orthopaedics, First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: shilei_med@163.com.
Chao SunCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100 Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: Sunchao2775@163.com.
Ning WangDepartment of Orthopaedics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038 Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: wangning890114@126.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionBone fracture is increasing in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) due to skeletal fragility. Most antidiabetics are expected to reduce the incidence of fracture in patients with T2DM, however the results are disappointing. Metformin and GLP-1 receptor agonists have a neutral or minor positive effect in reducing fractures.

objectivesWe aim to reveal the mechanism of fracture in patients with T2DM treated with metformin or exendin-4, explore the key regulators responsible for bone fragility in T2DM.

methodsTrabecular and cortical masses in mice with T2DM were analyzed using micro-computed tomography. Biomechanical strength of bone was determined according to three-point bending, and the expression of bone-associated factors was examined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Important proteins and miRNAs were identified using proteomics analysis and deep screening analysis. Lastly, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry and dual-luciferase reporter analysis were used to identify key molecular signals.

resultsWe found that sermaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is the key regulator of bone fragility in T2DM. Exendin-4 increased the biomechanical properties of bone by decreasing serum Sema4D levels, and metformin has little effect on Sema4D. Anti-sema4D treatment could improve bone strength in T2DM mice compared with metformin or exendin-4. The biomechanical properties of bone were comparable between anti-Sema 4D and the combination of metformin and exendin-4. Exendin-4 promoted osteogenesis of BMSCs by activating CRMP2 to reverse the effect of sema4D. Metformin increased miR-140-3p levels, which decreased plexin B1 expression in bone mesenchymal stem cells. Metformin increased the effect of exendin-4 with more GLP-1 receptor expression to increase the biomechanical strength of bone via miR-140-3p-STAT3-miR-3657 signaling.

conclusionBlood glucose level is not the major factor contributing to impairment in bone remodeling. Sema4D is responsible for the increase in the incidence of bone fractures in T2DM. Accordingly, we proposed an effective therapeutic strategy to eliminate the effect of sema4D.

Indexed as

Antigens, CDDiabetes Mellitus, ExperimentalDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Fractures, BoneSemaphorinsAnimalsBiomarkersBlood GlucoseDisease Models, AnimalExenatideHumansHypoglycemic AgentsIncidenceMaleMetforminMiceAntigens, CDBiomarkersBlood GlucoseCD100 antigenExenatideHypoglycemic AgentsMetforminMicroRNAsSemaphorinsExendin-4Incidence of bone fractureMetforminSemaphorin 4DType 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

PMID40073972
PMCPMC12766207

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Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.