Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40450304›Full record

ArticleHereditas2025

Identification of EPHB4 as a potential causal gene and therapeutic target for endometriosis using Mendelian randomization.

Shaohua Ling, Delong Xie, Lifang Huang, Siqi Huang, Chun Tian, Liying Huang, Rong Chen, Li Qin, Xiao Qin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Hereditas, 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.

Shaohua Ling *Reproductive Medicine Center, Baise People's Hospital/Affiliated Southwest Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Delong Xie *Clinical Laboratory, Baise People's Hospital/Affiliated Southwest Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Lifang Huang *Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Siqi HuangDepartment of Gynecology, Baise People's Hospital/Affiliated Southwest Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Chun TianReproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Liying HuangReproductive Medicine Center, Baise People's Hospital/Affiliated Southwest Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Rong ChenReproductive Medicine Center, Baise People's Hospital/Affiliated Southwest Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China.
Li QinReproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China. qinlimy@126.com.
Xiao QinReproductive Medicine Center, Baise People's Hospital/Affiliated Southwest Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China. qinxiaomy@163.com.

Funding

the 2019 Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi, China 2019GXNSFBA245020the High-Level Talent Scientific Research Project of the Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, China Y20196316
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesEndometriosis is a common condition among women, characterized by chronic pain and infertility, presenting significant challenges for clinicians. This study aims to identify potential druggable targets to offer new therapeutic approaches.

methodWe utilized the summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) method to investigate the causal relationships between druggable genes that encode plasma proteins and endometriosis. The data sources included the deCODE database, the UKB-PPP, and the FinnGen database. Colocalization analysis was used to identify whether candidate genes and the disease share a common causal genetic variant. Finally, we measured the protein abundance and relative mRNA expression levels of targeted druggable genes in the plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of endometriosis patients using ELISA and RT-qPCR.

resultsBy integrating the results of SMR and colocalization analyses, we found that EPHB4 is strongly associated with the risk of endometriosis, with higher levels of EPHB4 correlating with an increased risk of the condition (P

conclusionsWe found that the druggable genes EPHB4, CD109, SAA1, SAA2, FSHB, and SEZ6L2 may be associated with the pathogenesis of endometriosis and are potential therapeutic targets for drug treatment. However, this preliminary study is limited by sample size and population diversity, requiring further validation to confirm the reliability of these findings.

Indexed as

EndometriosisMendelian Randomization AnalysisReceptor, EphB4FemaleGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansLeukocytes, MononuclearPolymorphism, Single NucleotideEPHB4 protein, humanReceptor, EphB4Colocalization analysisDruggable genomeEndometriosisEPHB4Mendelian randomization

Identifiers

PMID40450304
PMCPMC12126875

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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.