Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42163376›Full record

ArticleBiology direct2026

Single-cell analysis reveals that NRG1/3-ERBB4 signaling affects metabolic reprogramming and immune escape in Wilms tumor.

Zhiqiang Gao, Jie Lin, Huafei Tang, Ao Li, Rui Li, Ao Xu, Rui Hu, Shuai Xu, Maolin Zhang, Wenming Yang and 3 more

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Article in Biology direct, 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

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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

13 authors.

Zhiqiang GaoDepartment of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Children and Adolescents' Health and Diseases, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.
Jie LinDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Huafei TangDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Ao LiDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Rui LiDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Ao XuDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Rui HuDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Shuai XuDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Maolin ZhangDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Wenming YangDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Haijing HuangDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Zheng ZhangDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China.
Feng LiuDepartment of Pediatric Urology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Cheng Du, Si Chuan, China. hx2liuf@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWilms tumor presents a heterogeneous tumor microenvironment. This study aimed to characterize the tumor microenvironment and identify prognostic genes to improve therapeutic strategies.

methodsWe integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptomic data from paired tumor and normal tissues. Bioinformatics analyses included assessments of cellular heterogeneity, trajectories, and cell-cell communication. Prognostic genes were identified with differential expression, Cox regression, and machine-learning analyses. Furthermore, functional characterization, immune infiltration patterns, and therapeutic targets were systematically investigated. Potential therapeutic compounds were predicted using drug databases and a graph-based deep learning framework to predict compound-protein interactions.

resultsSingle-cell RNA sequencing revealed 17 cell clusters, with tumor-specific epithelial cells and renal progenitor cells. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed dynamic differentiation, highlighting NRG1/3-ERBB4 signaling. Intersection of the transcriptomic and single-cell data identified 405 key genes. A prognostic model incorporating eight prognostic genes (PRLR, SLC16A7, SGIP1, PPARGC1A, CDHR5, GRB7, FKBP10, and UGT2B7) stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups (p < 0.0001), with area under the curve values > 0.6 for 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival prediction. High-risk patients had elevated regulatory T cell infiltration and immune checkpoint genes (TNFRSF9 and KIR3DL3). Chitosan was identified as a multitarget agent that interacts with the eight prognostic proteins.

conclusionsThis study defined tumor cellular architecture and identified eight prognostic genes with potential clinical value.

Indexed as

Kidney NeoplasmsReceptor, ErbB-4Wilms TumorGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansMetabolic ReprogrammingSignal TransductionSingle-Cell AnalysisTumor MicroenvironmentERBB4 protein, humanReceptor, ErbB-4Molecular dockingPrognostic geneSingle-cell RNA sequencingTumor microenvironmentWilms tumor

Identifiers

PMID42163376
PMCPMC13289429

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.