Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41266306›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

MRAP mediated adipocyte differentiation by thymic mesenchymal stromal cells contributes to thymic involution.

Dandan Wang, Xiang Fang, Yujun Deng, Xin Wen, Ousheng Liu, Junji Xu, Fudong Fan, Dongjin Wang, Yichen Han, Peter Zanvit and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
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. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

15 authors.

Dandan Wang *Mucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Xiang Fang *Department of Emergency Medicine, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
Yujun DengCenter for Immunology and Hematology, Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Xin WenDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
Ousheng LiuMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Junji XuMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Fudong FanDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
Dongjin WangDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.
Yichen HanMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Peter ZanvitMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Sang A ParkMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Wenwen JinMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Hongbo HuCenter for Immunology and Hematology, Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8177-7641
Lingyun SunDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China. lingyunsun@nju.edu.cn.
WanJun ChenMucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA. wchen@mail.nih.gov.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9335-2114

Funding

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) IRP
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Adipocyte deposition is believed to be a primary characteristic of age-related thymic involution, but the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We show here that thymic mesenchymal stromal cells (tMSCs) have a higher tendency to differentiate into adipocytes and melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein (MRAP) is a potential driver of tMSCs adipogenesis. Furthermore, we discover that thymosin-α1 promotes MRAP expression in tMSCs through FoxO1 signaling pathway. Additionally, the proportion of tMSCs increase in older mice compared to young mice. Importantly, MRAP is also necessary for human thymic MSCs to differentiate into adipocytes when exposed to thymosin-α1. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of human thymus revealed an accumulation of tMSCs and adipocytes during aging, indicating a strong potential for adipogenic differentiation in age-related thymic involution. Thus, we have revealed MRAP as a key factor in promoting thymic MSCs adipogenesis triggered by thymosin-α1 and FoxO1 pathway, which may serve as potential target to hinder adiposity in age-related thymic involution.

Indexed as

AdipocytesMesenchymal Stem CellsThymus GlandAdipogenesisAgingAnimalsCell DifferentiationFemaleForkhead Box Protein O1HumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSignal TransductionThymosinForkhead Box Protein O1Thymosin

Identifiers

PMID41266306
PMCPMC12635226

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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.