Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42203776›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Monitoring in vivo transcription with synthetic serum markers.

Sho Watanabe, Sangsin Lee, Manwal Harb, Shirin Nouraein, Emma Raisley, Honghao Li, Nicolas Buitrago, Beatrice Pforr, Jerzy O Szablowski

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Monitoring Gene Expression in Retina with synthetic serum markers.bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026
    Article
  3. Erasable serum markers.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Sho WatanabeDepartment of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
Sangsin LeeDepartment of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1306-2206
Manwal HarbDepartment of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
Shirin NouraeinRice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3423-1002
Emma RaisleyDepartment of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-0794-5168
Honghao LiDepartment of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-5545-4755
Nicolas BuitragoRice Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7876-1078
Beatrice PforrDepartment of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
Jerzy O SzablowskiDepartment of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA. jszab@rice.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7851-5408

Funding

Monitoring neuronal activity with a blood test - Released Markers of Activity (RMA)DP2EB035905 · NIBIB · RICE UNIVERSITY · PI Jerzy Olgierd Szablowski · 2023 to 2026
$2.3M
David and Lucile Packard Foundation (David & Lucile Packard Foundation) 2021-73005National Science Foundation (NSF) 1842494NIBIB NIH HHS DP2 EB035905U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | NIH Office of the Director (OD) DP2EB035905
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Understanding transcription profiles of living tissues is critical for biology and medicine. However, measurement of the transcript levels is typically done in tissues collected post-mortem. Here, we present a new platform that enables noninvasive monitoring of specific mRNA levels in vivo, without tissue destruction. We achieved this by combining two cutting-edge tools - synthetic serum markers, called Released Markers of Activity (RMAs), and RNA-based sensors of transcription. We call this platform IN-vivo Tracking of ACtive Transcription, or INTACT. In INTACT, when the target mRNA is expressed, the RNA sensor detects it and triggers the production and release of RMA reporters into the blood. Once in blood, the RMAs can be easily measured through a simple blood draw. Our data shows that INTACT can measure transcription of transgenes, as well as endogenous transcripts, such as c-Fos or Arc, both in vivo in the mouse brain and in tissue culture. INTACT enables simple measurement of transcript level histories in genetically-targetable cell populations of living animals.

Indexed as

BiomarkersRNA, MessengerTranscription, GeneticAnimalsBrainMiceProto-Oncogene Proteins c-fosBiomarkersProto-Oncogene Proteins c-fosRNA, Messenger

Identifiers

PMID42203776
PMCPMC13388719

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.