Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40890810›Full record

ArticleArthritis research & therapy2025

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) induces type 1 interferon signalling in systemic sclerosis keratinocytes through the chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4).

Christopher W Wasson, Sophie L Dibb, Begoña Caballero-Ruiz, Ifeoluwa E Bamigbola, Stefano Di Donato, Eva M Madourie-Clavane, Rebecca Wells, Vishal Kakkar, Enrico De Lorenzis, Jessica Bryon and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Arthritis research & therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. 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

16 authors.

Christopher W WassonFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. c.w.wasson@leeds.ac.uk.
Sophie L DibbFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Begoña Caballero-RuizFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Ifeoluwa E BamigbolaBiomedical Sciences in Biosciences, College of Science and Technology at Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Stefano Di DonatoFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Eva M Madourie-ClavaneFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Rebecca WellsFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Vishal KakkarFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Enrico De LorenzisFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Jessica BryonFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Emma Derrett-SmithCentre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, UCL Division of Medicine, London, UK.
Christopher P DentonCentre for Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, UCL Division of Medicine, London, UK.
Yasser El-SherbinyBiomedical Sciences in Biosciences, College of Science and Technology at Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Paul J MeakinFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Rebecca L RossFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Francesco Del GaldoFaculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. f.delgaldo@leeds.ac.uk.

Funding

Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council BB/V014358/1British Heart Foundation FS/4yPhD/F/20/34130British Skin Foundation 018_SG_22Medical Research Council DTP studentshipNational Institute for Health Research BRC PhD studentshipNational Institute for Health Research NIHR213331
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized by fibrosis of the skin, progressing to affect the internal organs in the most serve cases. Type 1 interferon (IFN) signalling plays a major role in SSc disease progression. The cytokine TGF-β has been extensively shown to be a major driver of fibrosis but its role in the induction of the type 1 interferon response is poorly understood.

methodsType 1 IFN signalling was activated in keratinocytes using a range of agonists, IFN2α, Poly I:C, Poly dA:dT, LPS and TGF-β. CLIC4 activity was inhibited with the small molecule chloride channel inhibitors NPPB, IAA:94 and siRNA specific to CLIC4. Conditioned media collected from Healthy and SSc dermal fibroblasts was used to stimulate keratinocytes.

resultsTGF-β stimulation induces a type 1 IFN response in keratinocytes, dependent on the chloride intracellular channel 4 (CLIC4). Inhibition of CLIC4 via small molecule inhibitors or siRNA attenuates TGF-β mediated activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1) in keratinocytes. Further analysis revealed SSc dermal fibroblasts induce a type 1 IFN response in keratinocytes in part through a TGFβR1-CLIC4 axis.

conclusionsThis study shows the ability of CLIC4 to enhance TGF-β signalling is essential for aberrant type 1 interferon signalling in SSc skin.

Indexed as

Chloride ChannelsInterferon Type IKeratinocytesScleroderma, SystemicSignal TransductionTransforming Growth Factor betaCells, CulturedFibroblastsHumansChloride ChannelsCLIC4 protein, humanInterferon Type ITransforming Growth Factor betaCLIC4InterferonSclerodermaSTAT1

Identifiers

PMID40890810
PMCPMC12400655

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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.