Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40216763›Full record

ArticleCell death & disease2025

Inhibition of Rho GEFs attenuates pulmonary fibrosis through suppressing myofibroblast activation and reprogramming profibrotic macrophages.

Chengju Luo, Chenqi Huang, Yuqi Zhu, Yuxin Zhou, Yansheng Qiao, Chenxiao Shi, Yuan Gao, Yongjian Guo, Libin Wei

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell death & disease, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. 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

9 authors.

Chengju Luo *Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, #24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Chenqi Huang *Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, #24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Yuqi Zhu *Bayi Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, #138 Xianlin Rd, Nanjing, 210023, China.
Yuxin ZhouJiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, #24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Yansheng QiaoJiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, #24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Chenxiao ShiJiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, #24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Yuan GaoPublic Laboratory Platform, China Pharmaceutical University, #24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China.
Yongjian GuoSchool of Biopharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, #639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China. guoyj@cpu.edu.cn.
Libin WeiJiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, China Pharmaceutical University, #24 Tongjiaxiang, Nanjing, 210009, China. wlbiws_1986@aliyun.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7912-5396

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82204442National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82373907
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a poor prognosis, with existing medications only partially alleviating symptoms, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. The dysregulations of Rho GTPases/ROCK are related with various diseases, including fibrosis. Nevertheless, the development of drugs for pulmonary fibrosis treatment has predominantly concentrated on ROCK inhibitors. Small GTPases have been historically recognized as "undruggable". Here, we explore a novel Rho GEFs inhibitor GL-V9, and find that GL-V9 alleviates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice by inhibiting myofibroblast activation and reprogramming profibrotic macrophages. Distinct from the mechanisms of the first-line drug Nintedanib, GL-V9 binds to the DH/PH domain of Rho GEFs and block the activation of Rho GTPase signaling. This action subsequently suppresses myofibroblast activation by interfering with Rho GTPase-dependent cytoskeletal reorganization and the activity of MRTF and YAP, and inhibits M2 macrophage polarization by modulating RhoA/STAT3 activity. The discovery of new regulatory mechanisms of GL-V9 suggests that targeting Rho GEFs represents a potent strategy for pulmonary fibrosis treatment.

Indexed as

Cellular ReprogrammingIdiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisMacrophagesMyofibroblastsPulmonary FibrosisRho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange FactorsAnimalsBleomycinHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLrhoA GTP-Binding Proteinrho GTP-Binding ProteinsSignal TransductionSTAT3 Transcription FactorBleomycinrhoA GTP-Binding Proteinrho GTP-Binding ProteinsRho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange FactorsSTAT3 Transcription FactorYAP-Signaling Proteins

Identifiers

PMID40216763
PMCPMC11992128

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.