Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40120978›Full record

ArticleMolecular metabolism2025

Microglial ER stress response via IRE1α regulates diet-induced metabolic imbalance and obesity in mice.

L Stilgenbauer, Q Chen, D Pungi, N James, H Jayarathne, L Koshko, S Scofield, K Zhang, M Sadagurski

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecular metabolism, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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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

9 authors.

L StilgenbauerDepartment of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA; Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
Q ChenCenter for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Medine, Detroit, MI, USA.
D PungiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA; Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
N JamesInstitute of Environmental Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
H JayarathneDepartment of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
L KoshkoDepartment of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA; Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
S ScofieldDepartment of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA; Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
K ZhangCenter for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Medine, Detroit, MI, USA. Electronic address: kzhang@med.wayne.edu.
M SadagurskiDepartment of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA; Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA. Electronic address: sadagurski@wayne.edu.

Funding

Canagliflozin as a Neuroprotective Agent to Improve Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Function during AgingRF1AG078170 · NIA · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI Marianna Sadagurski · 2023 to 2026
$2.0M
Benzene exposure promotes neuroinflammation and metabolic dysregulationR01ES033171 · NIEHS · WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY · PI Marianna Sadagurski · 2022 to 2026
$1.9M
NIA NIH HHS RF1 AG078170NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES033171
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundChronic high-fat diet (HFD) feeding triggers hypothalamic inflammation and systemic metabolic dysfunction associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Glial cells, specifically microglia and astrocytes, are central mediators of hypothalamic inflammation. However, the role of Inositol-Requiring Enzyme 1α (IRE1α), a primary ER stress sensor, in glial cells and its contributions to metabolic dysfunction remains elusive.

objectivesTo investigate the role of IRE1α in microglia in mediating HFD-induced metabolic dysfunction.

methodsUsing novel conditional knockout mouse models (CX3CR1

resultsDeleting IRE1α in microglia significantly reduced LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine gene expression in vitro. IRE1α deletion in microglia protected male mice from HFD-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, and hypothalamic inflammation, with no metabolic benefits observed in female mice. RNA-sequencing revealed significant transcriptional reprogramming of the hypothalamus, including upregulation of genes related to mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, metabolic adaptability, and anti-inflammatory responses.

conclusionsOur findings reveal that IRE1α-mediated ER stress response in microglia significantly contributes to hypothalamic inflammation and systemic metabolic dysfunction in response to HFD, particularly in males, demonstrating an important role of microglial ER stress response in diet-induced obesity and metabolic diseases.

Indexed as

Endoplasmic Reticulum StressEndoribonucleasesMicrogliaObesityProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesAnimalsDiet, High-FatFemaleHypothalamusInflammationMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutEndoribonucleasesErn1 protein, mouseProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesER stressHypothalamic inflammationHypothalamusMicrogliaNeuroinflammationUPR

Identifiers

PMID40120978
PMCPMC11994337

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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.