Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40813372›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Single-cell eQTL mapping of human endogenous retroviruses reveals cell type-specific genetic regulation in autoimmune diseases.

Fan Zhu, Yi Liu, Jiehao Lei, Xinxing Li, Zexu Jiang, Xuan Dong, Ying Gu, Young Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. 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

8 authors.

Fan ZhuBGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
Yi LiuBGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
Jiehao LeiBGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
Xinxing LiBGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
Zexu JiangBGI Research, Hangzhou, China.
Xuan DongBGI Research, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8288-322X
Ying GuBGI Research, Hangzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-0570
Young LiBGI Research, Hangzhou, China. liyang13@genomics.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6595-2577

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Human endogenous retroviruses constitute a significant portion of the human genome and play complex roles in gene regulation and disease processes. However, the expression pattern and disease associations of specific retroviral loci remain pooly understood. This study examines the expression and regulatory mechanisms of these retroviral elements in immune cells. Utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing data from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, we identify 41,460 expressed retroviral loci, with 1936 showing cell type-specific expression. We further detect 3463 conditionally independent expression quantitative trait loci linked to retroviral elements, highlighting their potential role in mediating genetic variants and disease associations. Notably, these retroviral sequences associate significantly with autoimmune diseases, with specific loci demonstrating pleiotropic associations with disease-related genes. Our findings suggest that these elements are not merely genomic remnants but active participants in cellular regulation and disease progression. This work advances understanding of human-retroviral coevolution and highlights potential therapeutic targets in immune disorders.

Indexed as

Autoimmune DiseasesEndogenous RetrovirusesGene Expression RegulationQuantitative Trait LociGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome, HumanHumansLeukocytes, MononuclearSingle-Cell Analysis

Identifiers

PMID40813372
PMCPMC12354754

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Registered trials

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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.