Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40197133›Full record

ArticleBMC genomics2025

RNA-sequencing demonstrates transcriptional differences between human vocal fold fibroblasts and myofibroblasts.

Michelle Bretl, Lingxin Cheng, Christina Kendziorski, Susan L Thibeault

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC genomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. 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

4 authors.

Michelle BretlDepartment of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Lingxin ChengDepartment of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Christina KendziorskiDepartment of Biostatistics & Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Susan L ThibeaultDepartment of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI, USA. thibeault@surgery.wisc.edu.

Funding

Engineering the Vocal Fold MucosaR01DC004336 · NIDCD · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI Susan Lynn Thibeault · 2000 to 2026
$14.6M
University of Wisconsin Voice Research Training Program (T32)T32DC009401 · NIDCD · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · PI Susan Lynn Thibeault · 2009 to 2026
$6.3M
NIDCD NIH HHS R0104336NIDCD NIH HHS R01 DC004336NIDCD NIH HHS T32 DC009401NIGMS NIH HHS GM102756
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDifferentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts is necessary for wound healing, but excessive myofibroblast presence and persistence can result in scarring. Treatment for scarring is limited largely due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of how fibroblasts and myofibroblasts differ at the transcript level. The purpose of this study was to characterize transcriptional profiles of injured fibroblasts relative to normal fibroblasts, utilizing fibroblasts from the vocal fold as a model.

resultsUtilizing bulk RNA sequencing technology, we identified differentially expressed genes between four cell lines of normal fibroblasts (cVFF), one line of scarred fibroblasts (sVFF), and four lines of fibroblasts treated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), representing an induced-scar phenotype (tVFF). Principal component analysis revealed clustering of normal fibroblasts separate from the clustering of fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1; scarred fibroblasts were more similar to normal fibroblasts than fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1. Enrichment analyses revealed pathways related to cell signaling, receptor-ligand activity, and regulation of cell functions in scarred fibroblasts, pathways related to cell adhesion in normal fibroblasts, and pathways related to ECM binding in fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1. Although transcriptomic profiles between scarred fibroblasts and fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1 were relatively dissimilar, the most highly co-expressed genes were enriched in pathways related to actin cytoskeleton binding, which supports the use of fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1 to represent a scarred cell phenotype.

conclusionsTranscriptomics of normal fibroblasts differ from myofibroblasts, including from those retrieved from scar and those treated with TGF-β1. Despite large differences in transcriptomics between tVFF and sVFF, tVFF serve as a useful in vitro model of myofibroblasts and highlight key similarities to myofibroblasts extracted from scar pathology, as well as expected differences related to normal fibroblasts from healthy vocal folds.

Indexed as

FibroblastsMyofibroblastsSequence Analysis, RNATranscriptomeVocal CordsCell LineCicatrixGene Expression ProfilingHumansTransforming Growth Factor beta1Transforming Growth Factor beta1MyofibroblastTranscriptomicsTransforming growth factor beta-1Vocal fold fibroblastVocal fold Scar

Identifiers

PMID40197133
PMCPMC11974177

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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.