Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42472304›Full record

ArticlePeerJ2026

Identification of novel serum proteins that distinguish idiopathic recurrent aphthous stomatitis from Behcet's disease.

Mengya Zhu, Xinliang Mao, Yong Peng, Xianqian Huang, Baoqing Geng, Minzhi Gan, Ying Ying, Keyue Zhang, Yong Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PeerJ, 2026. 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

9 authors.

Mengya ZhuDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Xinliang MaoEmergency Department, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Yong PengDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Xianqian HuangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Baoqing GengDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Minzhi GanDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Ying YingDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Keyue ZhangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
Yong ChenDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Ningbo No. 2 Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a chronic autoinflammatory condition marked by recurring, painful sores in the mouth. It is often confused with Behcet's disease (BD), a rare systemic vasculitis that also presents with oral ulcers. Despite overlapping symptoms, BD has broader systemic implications, making an accurate diagnosis critical. This study aims to identify unique serum proteins that could reliably distinguish idiopathic RAS from BD. Methods: We reanalyzed our previous mass spectrometry dataset comprising blood samples from 12 BD patients, 12 individuals with idiopathic RAS, and 21 healthy controls. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) related to RAS were identified and examined through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology pathway enrichment. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created to explore functional connections among the DEPs. Validation of three RAS-related proteins was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a separate cohort of 26 RAS patients, 26 BD patients, and 30 healthy individuals. Their diagnostic utility was then evaluated Results: A total of 99 proteins showed differential expression in RAS samples but not in BD cases when compared to healthy controls-85 were upregulated, and 14 were downregulated. Enrichment analyses indicated these proteins are primarily involved in metabolic and infection-related pathways, particularly influencing keratinocyte differentiation and oxidative stress responses. PPI network analysis highlighted key metabolic and keratinocyte-related proteins as central hubs, suggesting a role in RAS pathology. ELISA validation confirmed significantly elevated levels of ANXA2, ENO1, and S100A7 in RAS patients compared to both BD patients and healthy subjects. Conclusion: Our findings identify a set of RAS-related serum proteins with potential diagnostic value. These serum proteins may enhance the clinical differentiation of RAS from BD, aiding in more accurate and timely patient care.

Indexed as

Behcet SyndromeBlood ProteinsStomatitis, AphthousAdultBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesDiagnosis, DifferentialEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProtein Interaction MapsProteomicsBiomarkersBlood ProteinsBehcet’s diseaseDiagnosisDifferentially expressed proteinProteomic analysisRecurrent aphthous stomatitis

Identifiers

PMID42472304
PMCPMC13380236

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.