Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41898544›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

piRNA: Molecular Mechanisms from Germline Silencing to Somatic Regulation and Roles in Disease.

Chunmei Zhang, Kexin Yang, Zelong Zhao, Minmin Feng, Linxia Song, Zhenbiao Xu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
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

6 authors.

Chunmei ZhangSchool of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China.ORCID 0009-0008-7446-4664
Kexin YangSchool of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China.
Zelong ZhaoSchool of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China.
Minmin FengSchool of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China.
Linxia SongSchool of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China.
Zhenbiao XuSchool of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China.ORCID 0009-0004-4888-595X

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China 31550005the National Natural Science Foundation of China 81872005The National Natural Science Foundation of China 31350004the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province, China ZR2011HM065
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs initially identified in germline cells as genome guardians that silence transposable elements. Recent studies have expanded this view, revealing that piRNAs and PIWI proteins are broadly expressed in somatic tissues and participate in epigenetic and post-transcriptional gene regulation. This review systematically summarizes piRNA biogenesis and molecular mechanisms, with a focus on their functional diversification from germline to somatic cells. We detail piRNA dysregulation and its association with various human diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, immune dysfunction, and reproductive disorders. By integrating recent findings, this review provides a comprehensive overview of piRNA-mediated regulatory networks and highlights their potential as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

Gene SilencingGerm CellsPiwi-Interacting RNARNA, Small InterferingAnimalsArgonaute ProteinsDNA Transposable ElementsEpigenesis, GeneticGene Expression RegulationHumansArgonaute ProteinsDNA Transposable ElementsPiwi-Interacting RNARNA, Small Interferingdisease biomarkersepigeneticspiRNAPIWI proteinssomatic regulationtransposon silencing

Identifiers

PMID41898544
PMCPMC13026993

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.