Evidence map›Paper›PMID 28699638›Full record

ArticleNature communications2017

BCAT1 controls metabolic reprogramming in activated human macrophages and is associated with inflammatory diseases.

Adonia E Papathanassiu, Jeong-Hun Ko, Martha Imprialou, Marta Bagnati, Prashant K Srivastava, Hong A Vu, Danilo Cucchi, Stephen P McAdoo, Elitsa A Ananieva, Claudio Mauro and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 148 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
148citing papers in PubMed
7.7field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
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

148 citing papers in PubMed, 231 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
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  3. Itaconate and its derivatives in human health and diseases.Signal transduction and targeted therapy · 2026
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  19. Timing of Glucocorticoid Treatment Dictates Glucocorticoid Receptor Actions Modulating the NLRP3-Inflammasome Activation in Macrophages.FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology · 2026
    Article
  20. Article

88 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

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

11 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Adonia E PapathanassiuErgon Pharmaceuticals, LLC, P.O. Box 1001, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA.
Jeong-Hun KoCentre for Complement and Inflammation Research, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
Martha ImprialouCentre for Complement and Inflammation Research, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
Marta BagnatiCentre for Complement and Inflammation Research, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
Prashant K SrivastavaDivision of Brain Sciences, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London W12 0NN, UK.
Hong A VuErgon Pharmaceuticals, LLC, P.O. Box 1001, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, USA.
Danilo CucchiWilliam Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
Stephen P McAdooRenal and Vascular Inflammation Section, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
Elitsa A AnanievaBiochemistry and Nutrition, Des Moines University, Des Moines, Iowa 50312, USA.
Claudio MauroWilliam Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
Jacques BehmoarasCentre for Complement and Inflammation Research, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
Imperial College London · GBAegerion Pharmaceuticals (United States) · USCentre for Inflammation Research · GBDes Moines University · USQueen Mary University of London · GBWilliam Harvey Research Institute · GB

Funding

British Heart Foundation FS/12/38/29640British Heart Foundation PG/15/105/31906Medical Research Council G0901997Medical Research Council MR/M004716/1Medical Research Council MR/N01121X/1Medical Research Council MR/P021220/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Branched-chain aminotransferases (BCAT) are enzymes that initiate the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA), such as leucine, thereby providing macromolecule precursors; however, the function of BCATs in macrophages is unknown. Here we show that BCAT1 is the predominant BCAT isoform in human primary macrophages. We identify ERG240 as a leucine analogue that blocks BCAT1 activity. Selective inhibition of BCAT1 activity results in decreased oxygen consumption and glycolysis. This decrease is associated with reduced IRG1 levels and itaconate synthesis, suggesting involvement of BCAA catabolism through the IRG1/itaconate axis within the tricarboxylic acid cycle in activated macrophages. ERG240 suppresses production of IRG1 and itaconate in mice and contributes to a less proinflammatory transcriptome signature. Oral administration of ERG240 reduces the severity of collagen-induced arthritis in mice and crescentic glomerulonephritis in rats, in part by decreasing macrophage infiltration. These results establish a regulatory role for BCAT1 in macrophage function with therapeutic implications for inflammatory conditions.

Indexed as

Citric Acid CycleAnimalsArthritis, ExperimentalArthritis, RheumatoidDrug Evaluation, PreclinicalGlomerulonephritisHumansHydro-LyasesLeucineMacrophages, PeritonealMaleMice, Inbred C57BLMice, Inbred DBARatsSuccinatesTransaminasesAcod1 protein, mouseBCAT1 protein, humanBcat1 protein, mouseHydro-Lyasesitaconic acidLeucineSuccinatesTransaminases

Identifiers

PMID28699638
PMCPMC5510229
OpenAlexW2735414283

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.