Collagen ECM Production
Gene co-expression module in Fibroblasts
| Category | ECM production |
|---|---|
| Genes | 21 |
| Annotation certainty | 5 of 5 |
| Annotation consistency | 13 of 21 genes have a known function matching the annotation |
Why this annotation
The dominant hub genes are SPARC (osteonectin, ECM glycoprotein regulating collagen assembly), COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL6A3 (fibrillar and network-forming collagens), FBN1 (fibrillin-1, elastic fiber ECM), EMILIN1 (elastin microfibril interface), FSTL1 (follistatin-like 1, TGF-beta modulator), AEBP1 (collagen synthesis regulator), MMP14 (membrane-type MMP, collagen remodeling), and ANGPTL2 (pro-fibrotic angiogenic factor). This is a canonical fibroblast ECM production module. The strong upregulation in CD inflammation with reversal in CD remission is consistent with fibrotic fibroblast activation in Crohn's disease. CLTC and SEC31A (vesicular trafficking) are likely co-regulated due to high secretory demand. Neighbor context: M71 (inflammatory activation) and M5 (adhesion) support a fibroblast activation neighborhood; M111 represents the downstream ECM secretory output.
Genes
AEBP1, ANGPTL2, ANTXR1, CERCAM, CLTC, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL6A3, EMILIN1, FBN1, FSTL1, GPC1, HDLBP, MAP4, MMP14, MYH9, SEC31A, SPARC
Most correlated modules
- Inflammatory Fibroblast Activation · correlation 0.89
- Actin-Integrin Adhesion · correlation 0.82
- TGF-beta Fibrosis · correlation 0.82
- Basement Membrane ECM · correlation 0.80
- Lysosomal Biogenesis · correlation 0.80
Module annotations were drafted by a large language model from the module's genes, then reviewed and approved by a domain expert. See sources & licences.