Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40075076›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Nf2-FAK signaling axis is critical for cranial bone ossification and regeneration.

Junguang Liao, Yuping Huang, Fuju Sun, Chenggong Zheng, Yifeng Yao, Cui Zhang, Chenhe Zhou, Xingen Zhang, Mengrui Wu, Guiqian Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing 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

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Nf2 orchestrates β-arrestin2-biased PTH1R signaling to couple bone mass with skeletal integrity.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
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  8. 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

10 authors.

Junguang Liao *Department of Biopharmaceutics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of New Technologies and Applications for Targeted Therapy of Major Diseases, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-0562-1178
Yuping Huang *Department of Biopharmaceutics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of New Technologies and Applications for Targeted Therapy of Major Diseases, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.
Fuju SunDepartment of Biopharmaceutics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of New Technologies and Applications for Targeted Therapy of Major Diseases, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-8804-6151
Chenggong ZhengDepartment of Biopharmaceutics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of New Technologies and Applications for Targeted Therapy of Major Diseases, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-0644-0341
Yifeng YaoDepartment of Biopharmaceutics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of New Technologies and Applications for Targeted Therapy of Major Diseases, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0979-5017
Cui ZhangAffiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-1160-6011
Chenhe ZhouDepartment of Orthopedics, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Xingen ZhangDepartment of Orthopedics, Jiaxing Key Laboratory for Minimally Invasive Surgery in Orthopaedics & Skeletal Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang Rongjun Hospital, Jiaxing, 314001, China. zhxg66@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-7363-4554
Mengrui WuDepartment of Cell and Developmental Biology, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China. mengruiwu@zju.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1059-0916
Guiqian ChenDepartment of Biopharmaceutics, Zhejiang Provincial Engineering Research Center of New Technologies and Applications for Targeted Therapy of Major Diseases, College of Life Science and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, 310018, China. gqchen@zstu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6452-440X

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 81400489
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Skeletal mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess self-renewal capacities and play a leading role in the craniofacial system. However, their engagement in controlling cranial bone development and regeneration remains largely unidentified. Herein, we discovered the neurofibromin 2 (Nf2)-encoded regulator Merlin, demonstrating indispensableness in the craniofacial system. Mice lacking Nf2 in MSCs exhibit malformed cranial bones, diminished proliferation, increased apoptosis, and more severe osteogenesis impairment. Mechanically, we substantiate that Nf2 physically interacts with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to preferentially mediate Erk1/2 and PI3K catalytic p110 subunit/Akt signaling. Meanwhile, Nf2-FAK disturbance in MSCs results in deficient migration, cytoskeletal organization and focal adhesion dynamics, and develops retarded regeneration of cranial bone defects. Collectively, our findings underscore an unrecognized scaffolding role for Nf2-FAK as upstream element in regulating PI3K/Akt and Erk1/2 action in osteoblasts, and illuminate its essentialness in coordinating cell migration, osteogenic lineage development, cranial bone ossification and regeneration.

Indexed as

Bone RegenerationFocal Adhesion Kinase 1Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine KinasesNeurofibromin 2OsteogenesisSkullAnimalsApoptosisCell MovementCell ProliferationHumansMesenchymal Stem CellsMiceMice, KnockoutOsteoblastsPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesFocal Adhesion Kinase 1Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine KinasesNeurofibromin 2Phosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktPtk2 protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID40075076
PMCPMC11903865

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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.