Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40702210›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2025

Cathepsin B deficiency disrupts cortical development via PEG3, leading to depression-like behavior.

Zhen Xie, Qinghu Yang, Fei Lan, Wei Kong, Shuxuan Zhao, Jinyi Sun, Yan Yan, Zhenzhen Quan, Zhantao Bai, Hong Qing and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

12 authors.

Zhen Xie *Beijing Life Science Academy (BLSA), Beijing, China.
Qinghu Yang *Research Center for Resource Peptide Drugs, Shaanxi Engineering & Technological Research Center for Conversation & Utilization of Regional Biological Resources, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China.
Fei LanKey Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
Wei KongKey Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
Shuxuan ZhaoKey Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.
Jinyi SunShandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Yan YanDepartment of Cardiology, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Zhenzhen QuanKey Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2557-0371
Zhantao BaiResearch Center for Resource Peptide Drugs, Shaanxi Engineering & Technological Research Center for Conversation & Utilization of Regional Biological Resources, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China. ztbai@yau.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0223-8894
Hong QingDepartment of Biology, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Shenzhen, China. hqing@bit.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2820-450X
Jian MaoBeijing Life Science Academy (BLSA), Beijing, China. maojian@blsa.com.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2732-3403
Junjun NiKey Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China. nijunjun@bit.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8486-8146

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 32070954
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cathepsin B (CatB), a protease in endosomal and lysosomal compartments, plays a key role in neuronal protein processing and degradation, but its function in brain development remains unclear. In this study, we found that CatB is highly expressed in the cortex of E12.5-E16.5 mice. Morphological analysis revealed significant defects in cortical development in CatB knockout (KO) mice, particularly in layer 6. In vitro experiments showed that CatB deficiency notably impaired neuronal migration and development. Behaviorally, CatB KO mice displayed prominent depressive-like behaviors, and electrophysiological recordings demonstrated significantly reduced neuronal activity in layer 6 of the medial prefrontal cortex. Mechanistically, proteomics analysis revealed that CatB KO affected neuronal migration and axonal growth, and decreased the expression of key transcription factors involved in neuronal development, particularly PEG3. Deficiency of PEG3 also significantly impaired neuronal migration and development. Our findings uncover a role for CatB in cortical development and suggest a mechanism linking CatB deficiency with depression and developmental defects through the destabilization of PEG3.

Indexed as

Cathepsin BCerebral CortexDepressionAnimalsBehavior, AnimalCell MovementMaleMiceMice, KnockoutNeurogenesisNeuronsCathepsin BCtsb protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID40702210
PMCPMC12287434

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.