Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41269996›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the role of immunoinflammatory cells in the progression of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Xiaoqin Ye, Youcai Xu, Shanshan Wu, Yu Peng, Liwen Gao, Xi Huang, Lingfei Lu, Jiandong Lu, Xinhui Liu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

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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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. T-Cell Remodeling in Renal Fibrosis: From Acute Injury to Chronic Kidney Disease.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Review
  2. 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

9 authors.

Xiaoqin YeDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Youcai XuDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Shanshan WuDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Yu PengDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Liwen GaoDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Xi HuangDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Lingfei LuDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Jiandong LuDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Xinhui LiuDepartment of Nephrology, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0706-7836

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and prognosis. It is known that immunoinflammatory cell infiltration plays a crucial role in TIF development and progression. However, what types of immunoinflammatory cells and by what means they promote TIF have not been fully clarified. In this study, mice models of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in which the left ureters were ligated for 3, 7, and 14 days, respectively, were used to simulate different levels of TIF severity. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to characterize the immunoinflammatory cells in the kidneys of mice in each group. The results showed that the degree of renal pathological injury and expression level of fibrosis-related proteins increased over time in the UUO groups. Compared with the sham group, the proportion of T and NK cells, neutrophils, and mononuclear phagocyte cells was elevated in the kidney of UUO mice. Except for a decrease in the UUO7d group, the proportion of B cells did not differ notably between groups. The proportion of NaiveB_Ccl4 subset increased significantly in all UUO groups, and its up-regulated genes were mainly enriched in toll-like receptor signaling. The proportions of CD8Teff_Arhgap15, GDTCells_Trdc, HelperT_Tnf, and Treg_Foxp3 subsets were also significantly increased in all UUO groups, and their up-regulated genes were mainly enriched in NF-kappa B and TNF signaling. Neutrophils-4 subset was located at the terminal of neutrophil differentiation and mainly activated cytokine production and mitochondrial autophagy. Notably, the Macrophages_Arg1 subset had high scores in extracellular matrix remodeling, pro-angiogenesis, pro-inflammation, and immune regulation. Moreover, interactions between fibroblasts and immunoinflammatory cells increased with prolonged UUO time, with the strongest interactions with macrophages. When fibroblasts acted as ligand cells, the important interacting gene pairs with immunoinflammatory cells were CXCL6-CXCR1, APP-CD74, CX3CL1-CX3CR1, and THBS1-CD36, whereas when fibroblasts acted as receptor cells, the important interacting gene pairs with immunoinflammatory cells were TYROBP-CD44, TNF-TNFRSF1A, LGALS3-MERTK, PDGFA/B-PDGFRA, OSM-OSMR, and DKK2-LRP6. Overall, this study revealed the dynamic changes of immunoinflammatory cells and their interactions with fibroblasts in the kidneys during the UUO-induced TIF process.

Indexed as

Nephritis, InterstitialAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalDisease ProgressionFibrosisInflammationKidneyMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLRenal Insufficiency, ChronicSequence Analysis, RNASignal TransductionSingle-Cell AnalysisUreteral Obstruction

Identifiers

PMID41269996
PMCPMC12637933

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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.