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Induction of Murine Intestinal Inflammation by Adoptive Transfer of Effector CD4+CD45RBhigh T Cells into Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: April 21, 2015
RNF213 marks a regulatory T-cell subset associated with ulcerative colitis
Zhangqin Li1,2, Jing Wu1,2, Jiayi Yang1,2
1Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Frontiers in Immunology
|July 28, 2026
Summary
This study identifies RNF213 as a key biomarker in ulcerative colitis (UC). RNF213 is enriched in mucosal Tregs, suggesting a distinct subset associated with UC inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an autoimmune disease with unclear etiology and pathogenesis.
- Identifying novel therapeutic targets is crucial for clinical diagnosis and treatment of UC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel ubiquitination biomarkers for ulcerative colitis (UC).
- To investigate the role of RNF213 in UC pathogenesis and its association with regulatory T cells (Tregs).
Main Methods:
- Integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk transcriptome data from UC patients.
- Developed a diagnostic model using machine learning algorithms and validated biomarkers via multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF).
- Utilized scTenifoldKnk and CellChat for mechanistic insights into RNF213 function in Tregs.
Main Results:
- Identified five UC-specific ubiquitination biomarkers, with RNF213 showing high diagnostic performance (AUC > 0.9).
- RNF213 was found to be enriched in mucosal Tregs from UC patients, with increased RNF213+ Tregs observed in UC.
- RNF213+ Tregs are associated with mitochondrial pathways and altered immune cell interactions in UC.
Conclusions:
- RNF213 is a promising biomarker enriched in UC-associated mucosal Tregs.
- RNF213+ Tregs represent a distinct subset potentially involved in UC inflammatory activity.
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