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Integrative Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies CXCL12 as a Candidate Hub Gene Associated with CD4⁺ T-Cell Immune
Xiaoxiao Huang1,2, Chuan Lu1,2, Zhibiao Tan2,3
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
Journal of Inflammation Research
|May 21, 2026
Summary
This study identifies CXCL12 as a key regulator in secondary lymphedema, potentially mediating fibroblast and CD4⁺ T cell interactions. Further research is needed to confirm its causal role in immune regulation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Bioinformatics
- Genomics
Background:
- Secondary lymphedema involves chronic inflammation and immune microenvironment remodeling.
- CD4⁺ T cells and their subsets are critical players in this process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify candidate molecules regulating the CD4⁺ T cell immune microenvironment in secondary lymphedema.
- To explore the potential regulatory role of CD4⁺ T cells in secondary lymphedema pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) on CD4⁺ T cell data.
- Bulk transcriptomics, CIBERSORT, Hallmark ssGSEA, and CellChat for immune microenvironment analysis.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation and virtual cell knockout analysis.
Main Results:
- CD4⁺ T cells shift from resting to activated states in secondary lymphedema tissue.
- The CXCL12-CXCR4 axis is implicated in fibroblast-CD4⁺ T cell communication.
- CXCL12 is upregulated in secondary lymphedema, shows diagnostic potential, and correlates with specific T cell subsets.
Conclusions:
- CXCL12 is a potential immune regulatory molecule in secondary lymphedema.
- CXCL12 may mediate fibroblast-CD4⁺ T cell interactions via the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis.
- Functional studies are required to confirm the causal relationship.
