Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40728885›Full record

ArticleJCI insight2025

TGF-β-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition of keratinocytes promotes fibrosis in secondary lymphedema.

Hyeung Ju Park, Jinyeon Shin, Ananta Sarker, Mark G Klang, Elyn Riedel, Michelle Coriddi, Joseph H Dayan, Sarit Pal, Babak J Mehrara, Raghu P Kataru

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JCI insight, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing 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

11 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Keratinocytes: A key player in skin immunity and their emerging roles in secondary lymphedema.JID innovations : skin science from molecules to population health · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. Review
  10. Review
  11. Review
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

10 authors.

Hyeung Ju ParkPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.
Jinyeon ShinPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.
Ananta SarkerPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.
Mark G KlangResearch Pharmacy, and.
Elyn RiedelBiostatistics Service, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
Michelle CoriddiPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.
Joseph H DayanPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.
Sarit PalPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.
Babak J MehraraPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.
Raghu P KataruPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI SELWYN M VICKERS · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
Mechanisms of fibrosis in post-surgical lymphedemaR01HL111130 · NHLBI · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI MEHRARA, BABAK J · 2012 to 2021
$7.2M
Mechanisms of racial disparity in breast cancer-related lymphedemaR01CA278599 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI Andrea Barrio, Babak J Mehrara · 2023 to 2026
$2.9M
Role of lymphatic endothelial cell NFkB signaling in adult lymph node homeostasisR21AG077150 · NIA · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI KATARU, RAGHU PRASAD · 2024 to 2024
$514k
Molecular mechanisms of age-related lymphatic dysfunctionR21AG076132 · NIA · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI MEHRARA, BABAK J · 2022 to 2023
$487k
Role of epidermis in regulating inflammatory skin manifestations of post-surgical lymphedemaR21AR081076 · NIAMS · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · PI MEHRARA, BABAK J · 2023 to 2024
$422k
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748NCI NIH HHS R01 CA278599NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL111130NIAMS NIH HHS R21 AR081076NIA NIH HHS R21 AG076132NIA NIH HHS R21 AG077150
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Secondary lymphedema is characterized by fibrosis and impaired lymphatic function. Although TGF-β is a key regulator of fibrosis in this disease, the cellular mechanisms regulating this process remain unknown. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a mechanism by which TGF-β induces fibrosis in other skin diseases, is characterized by loss of epithelial cell markers and cellular polarity, upregulation of fibrotic gene expression, and gain of migratory capacity. Using clinical lymphedema biopsy specimens and animal models, we show that keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis undergo EMT in lymphedematous skin, migrate into the dermis, and contribute to dermal fibrosis. In vitro studies using cultured primary human keratinocytes treated with lymphatic fluid from the affected limbs of patients with secondary lymphedema resulted in a TGF-β-mediated increased expression of EMT markers. We show for the first time that EMT is activated by TGF-β in secondary lymphedema and that this process plays an important role in regulating skin fibrosis in this disease.

Indexed as

Epithelial-Mesenchymal TransitionKeratinocytesLymphedemaTransforming Growth Factor betaAnimalsCell MovementCells, CulturedDisease Models, AnimalFemaleFibrosisHumansMaleMiceSkinTransforming Growth Factor betaCell biologyDermatologyFibrosisInflammationLymphSkin

Identifiers

PMID40728885
PMCPMC12487678

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.