Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41366246›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Chemical reprogramming of fibroblasts into retinal pigment epithelium cells for vision restoration.

Shasha Li, Hui Liu, Shao-Hui Pan, Zhengbiao Zhu, Shun Zhang, Jiahang Li, Yinghao Yao, Xinyu Wang, Na Gao, Xiaoyu Liu and 8 more

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. 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

18 authors.

Shasha Li *State Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2166-950X
Hui Liu *State Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0444-5579
Shao-Hui Pan *State Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Zhengbiao ZhuState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Shun ZhangState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jiahang LiState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Yinghao YaoState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Xinyu WangFrontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
Na GaoState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Xiaoyu LiuState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Ming ChenState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Huijuan HuState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Wenmin PanState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Qunyan ZhuState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Yaoyao CaiDepartment of Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Jia QuState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. qujia@eye.ac.cn.
Shaorong GaoFrontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China. gaoshaorong@tongji.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1041-3928
Jianzhong SuState Key Laboratory of Eye Health, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China. sujz@wmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1054-6042

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) T2525030Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation) 2025C02153
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Restoring retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells is crucial for treating retinal degenerative (RD) diseases, with chemical reprogramming offering a transformative, scalable solution. However, identifying key chemical compounds for generating functional RPE cells from somatic cells remains challenging. Here, we present a two-step chemical reprogramming strategy to convert fibroblasts into functional chemical induced RPE (ciRPE) cells. Leveraging the Single-Cell Reprogramming Compound Finder (scRCF), which integrates transcriptomics-guided predictions with advanced screening, we identified chemical cocktails that precisely reprogram fibroblasts through an intermediate state into ciRPE cells. These ciRPE cells closely mimic the structure and function of native RPE cells, and upon transplantation into RD rats, they seamlessly integrate into host tissue, protect photoreceptors, and restore visual function. Omics and mechanistic analyses revealed that the identified compounds synergistically activate core transcription factors, including Ascl1 and Olig2, orchestrating the reprogramming process. This study provides a scalable, non-integrative approach for generating functional RPE cells, offering a promising strategy for cell replacement therapies targeting RD diseases.

Indexed as

Cellular ReprogrammingFibroblastsRetinal DegenerationRetinal Pigment EpitheliumVision, OcularAnimalsBasic Helix-Loop-Helix ProteinsHumansRatsBasic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins

Identifiers

PMID41366246
PMCPMC12796243

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.