TGF-beta Response
Gene co-expression module in Fibroblasts
| Category | ECM remodeling |
|---|---|
| Genes | 16 |
| Annotation certainty | 3 of 5 |
| Annotation consistency | 7 of 16 genes have a known function matching the annotation |
Why this annotation
Top hub genes HTRA1 (serine protease that cleaves ECM components and regulates TGF-β bioavailability), RECK (glycoprotein inhibitor of MMPs and ADAM proteases), and TGFBR2 (TGF-β receptor II) together define a TGF-β signaling and ECM regulatory program. FREM1 encodes a basement membrane component, PODN is a proteoglycan, and CNRIP1 modulates signaling. NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor) is consistent with anti-inflammatory stromal identity. The module is strongly suppressed in UC inflammation and robustly restored in remission (delta_remission_UC = 0.562), suggesting it marks a homeostatic fibroblast state. ZBTB20 and PIK3R1 add transcriptional and signaling regulatory layers. This module is a neighbor of M109 which also involves ECM/heparan sulfate remodeling, reinforcing an ECM regulatory neighborhood.
Genes
C1orf21, CBR3, CNRIP1, DOK5, FREM1, GUSB, HTRA1, LRRN4CL, NR3C1, PIK3R1, PLBD1, PODN, RECK, SGCE, TGFBR2, ZBTB20
Most correlated modules
- Metabolic Homeostasis · correlation 0.82
- ECM Glycan Remodeling · correlation 0.79
- Lysosomal Cytoskeletal · correlation 0.76
- Heparan Sulfate Remodeling · correlation 0.75
- Myofibroblast Subtype · correlation 0.72
- Fibroblast Niche Identity · correlation 0.72
- Retinoid Stromal Quiescence · correlation 0.70
- Homeostatic Stromal Identity · correlation 0.69
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.