Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40719972›Full record

ArticleHepatology international2026

USP13 promotes hepatic stellate cells activation and aggravates liver fibrosis through deubiquitinating SMAD3.

Ao Wang, Hui Dong, Yaqian Cui, Weiwei Zhu, Jiaxi Ye, Leiming Jin, Yongqiang Xiong, Qianhui Zhang, Mengsha Lin, Jibo Han and 4 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Hepatology international, 2026. 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

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Ao Wang *Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Hui Dong *Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yaqian CuiChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Weiwei ZhuDepartment of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jiaxi YeChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Leiming JinChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Yongqiang XiongDepartment of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Qianhui ZhangChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Mengsha LinChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Jibo HanChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Zimin FangChemical Biology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China.
Xiang HuDepartment of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Wu LuoDepartment of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. wuluo@wmu.edu.cn.
Guang LiangDepartment of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. wzmcliangguang@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

aimsActivation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is key to the development of liver fibrosis. Recent studies have highlighted the role of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) in regulating protein stability and function, closely related to liver fibrosis. In this study, we screened out a key DUB, ubiquitin-specific peptidase 13 (USP13), in HSCs activation and explored its role and underlying mechanism.

methodsGene Expression Omnibus (GEO) public database were used to demonstrate the correlation of USP13 with HSC activation. Mice with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated HSC-specific USP13 deficiency are proceeded to carbon tetrachloride (CCl

resultsWe first found that USP13 expression was upregulated in activated HSCs and in both CCl

conclusionsThis study illustrates an HSC-specific USP13-SMAD3 axis in regulating liver fibrosis and presents USP13 as a potential target for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Indexed as

Hepatic Stellate CellsLiver CirrhosisSmad3 ProteinUbiquitin-Specific ProteasesAnimalsCarbon TetrachlorideHumansMaleMiceUbiquitinationCarbon TetrachlorideSmad3 ProteinSmad3 protein, mouseUbiquitin-Specific ProteasesDeubiquitinating enzymeHSCLiver fibrosisSMAD3USP13

Identifiers

PMID40719972

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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.