Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40225314›Full record

ArticleClinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology2025

Mendelian Randomization Combined with Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Role of the Key Gene PCLAF in the Pathogenesis of Atopic Dermatitis.

Rui Tao, Xuejie Chen, Yingying Wang, Sicheng Li, Shengzhi Zhou, Sis Aghayants, Lingling Yan, Qi Zhang, Zhanyong Zhu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 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

9 authors.

Rui Tao *Department of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0001-8782-4421
Xuejie Chen *Department of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0001-3718-630X
Yingying Wang *Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People's Republic of China.
Sicheng LiDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People's Republic of China.
Shengzhi ZhouDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People's Republic of China.
Sis AghayantsDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0002-1173-271X
Lingling YanDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430061, People's Republic of China.
Qi ZhangDepartment of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430030, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0003-0564-9215
Zhanyong ZhuDepartment of Plastic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430060, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0003-4323-4862

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by itching and rashes, influenced by genetic, environmental, and immune factors. Despite significant research, the molecular mechanisms underlying AD are not fully understood. This study aims to integrate single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) with Mendelian Randomization (MR) to uncover genetic and metabolic pathways contributing to AD. Materials and Methods: Data from scRNA-seq and bulk RNA sequencing datasets were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes. The edgeR package was used for differential expression analysis, and candidate genes were explored using MR, employing eQTL data to determine causal relationships with AD. The inverse variance weighted method facilitated MR analysis, while gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to identify pathways associated with AD. Single-cell analysis was performed with the Seurat package to explore cellular heterogeneity, and pseudotime and cellular communication analyses were conducted to understand cell differentiation and interactions in AD. Results: The study identified key genes-PCLAF, MICB, CHAD, and CA4-linked to AD, with PCLAF notably acting as a risk factor. These genes are involved in cell cycle regulation, immune evasion, cell adhesion, and metabolic processes. The MR analysis highlighted lipid, amino acid, and energy metabolism as critical pathways in AD. Single-cell analysis revealed increased cellular communication in AD, especially in Langerhans cells, keratinocytes, and T cells, signifying dysregulated immune responses and inflammatory pathways. Pseudotime analysis indicated abnormal differentiation trajectories in these cell types. Conclusion: Our study highlights the importance of PCLAF in the pathogenesis of AD, indicating it as a potential target for future therapeutic strategies aimed at alleviating the disease by addressing genetic and metabolic disruptions.

Indexed as

atopic dermatitisgene expressionMendelian randomizationsingle-cell RNA sequencing

Identifiers

PMID40225314
PMCPMC11992997

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