Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41685577›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular medicine2026

Orcinol glucoside ameliorates pulmonary fibrosis by suppressing hyaluronic acid synthesis and macrophage M2 polarization via targeting hyaluronic acid synthase 2.

Caizi Li, Xinglinzi Tang, Xiaoru Luo, Xin Lai, Jing Yang, Zheng Xu, Gulizeba Muhetaer, Yizi Xie, Xiufang Huang, Hang Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Caizi Li *Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, P.R. China.
Xinglinzi Tang *Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, P.R. China.
Xiaoru Luo *Central Laboratory, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, P.R. China.
Xin LaiCentral Laboratory, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, P.R. China.
Jing YangCentral Laboratory, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, P.R. China.
Zheng XuCentral Laboratory, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, P.R. China.
Gulizeba MuhetaerThe Second Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511436, P.R. China.
Yizi XieThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, P.R. China.
Xiufang HuangThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, P.R. China.
Hang LiCentral Laboratory, Shenzhen Bao'an Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, P.R. China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive lung disorder characterized by unexplained fibrosis and limited therapeutic options, highlighting the urgent need for innovative treatments. Hyaluronic acid (HA), which is upregulated in IPF and correlates with disease severity, plays an undefined role in its pathogenesis. Hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2), a key enzyme in HA production, has an unclear function in IPF progression, particularly regarding its involvement in macrophage polarization. Understanding this mechanism is essential for identifying novel therapeutic targets and developing effective drugs for IPF. The present study investigated the roles of HAS2 and HA in IPF and identified potential therapeutic agents. Transcriptomic analysis revealed HAS2 as a critical IPF‑associated gene in patient samples, bleomycin (BLM)‑induced mouse models, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF‑β1)‑induced myofibroblasts. Single‑cell RNA sequencing further confirmed the fibroblast‑specific upregulation of HAS2 in fibrotic lungs. Experimental validation showed elevated HAS2 expression and HA accumulation in fibrosis models. HA facilitated macrophage M2 polarization and TGF‑β1 secretion through CD44‑dependent STAT6 activation, with CD44 inhibition blocking this effect. Knockdown of HAS2 in fibroblasts decreased HA release and impaired their ability to promote M2 polarization, suggesting that fibroblast‑derived HA drives this process. High‑throughput virtual screening, coupled with absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) profiling, identified orcinol glucoside (OG) as a potential HAS2 inhibitor, which was validated through surface plasmon resonance, cellular thermal shift assays, and molecular dynamics simulations. OG suppressed HA synthesis in TGF‑β1‑induced and HAS2‑overexpressing myofibroblasts in a dose‑dependent manner, inhibiting M2 polarization induction.

Indexed as

GlucosidesHyaluronan SynthasesHyaluronic AcidIdiopathic Pulmonary FibrosisMacrophagesPulmonary FibrosisAnimalsFibroblastsHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLTransforming Growth Factor beta1GlucosidesHyaluronan SynthasesHyaluronic AcidTransforming Growth Factor beta1hyaluronic acidhyaluronic acid synthase 2idiopathic pulmonary fibrosismacrophageorcinol glucoside

Identifiers

PMID41685577
PMCPMC12916164

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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.