Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40198451›Full record

ArticleClinical rheumatology2025

MTX-induced gastrointestinal reactions in RA: Prevotella enrichment, gut dysbiosis, and PI3K/Akt/Ras/AMPK pathways.

Ruixue Duo, Yining Wang, Quanzhi Ma, Xiaoyuan Wang, Yan Zhang, Haili Shen

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Article in Clinical rheumatology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ruixue DuoDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu Province, China.
Yining WangThe Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu, China.
Quanzhi MaThe Second Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu, China.
Xiaoyuan WangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu Province, China.
Yan ZhangDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu Province, China.
Haili ShenDepartment of Rheumatology and Immunology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, 82 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan District, Lanzhou, 730030, Gansu Province, China. shenhl@lzu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6774-6419

Funding

Cuiying Scientific Training Program for Undergraduates of The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School No. CYXZ2022-13CuiYing Technology Project of Lanzhou University No. CY2023-MS-A13Gansu Province Higher Education Institution Teachers' Innovation Fund Project 2025B-020Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province 25JRRA617Science and Technology Planning Project of Lanzhou No. 2018-3-49Science and Technology Planning Project of Lanzhou No. 2023-4-27
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo investigate the role of gut microbiota in methotrexate (MTX)-induced gastrointestinal reactions (MRGR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

methodsAs a prospective, single-center, convenience sampling study, stool samples were obtained from 28 RA patients (male: female = 10:18) at Lanzhou University Second Hospital who were undergoing MTX treatment for analysis of their gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Clinical disease activity (CDAI) and MRGR were assessed after two months of MTX therapy. All data collection periods exceeded one year. Intestinal germ-free mice, generated through antibiotic treatment, received fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from the patients, followed by varying doses of MTX to observe MRGR. Intestinal transcriptomics and markers related to intestinal barrier function were subsequently examined.

resultsFemales (84.6%) and high disease activity (CDAI scores, 39.6 ± 11.2 vs 26.3 ± 9.2) were prone to have MRGR in RA patients. Patients with MRGR (PT-GR) showed lower gut microbial diversity versus non-MRGR (PT-noGR). Prevotella abundance, positively correlated with CDAI and MRGR (p < 0.05), was elevated in PT-GR. Administering 10 mg/kg MTX to mice caused intestinal damage. FMT-GR-MTX mice exhibited weight loss (95.2%), morphological deterioration (86.4%), and reduced tight junction proteins (Claudin-1:72.4%; ZO-1:81.2%). Transcriptomics linked upregulated Gβγ/CREB/Atp4b to PI3K/Akt/Ras pathways and downregulated PFK2/PP2 to AMPK signaling in MRGR.

conclusionOur study identified notable gut microbiota alterations in RA patients prone to MRGR, with changes in intestinal gene expression and reduced intestinal barrier function potentially contributing to MRGR. These findings suggest potential strategies to mitigate MRGR in RA patients undergoing MTX treatment. Key Points • The RA-related MRGR is correlated with the intestinal microbiota. • Females, low gut diversity, and Prevotella enrichment are MRGR risks in RA. • Upregulated DEGs in MRGR linked to PI3K/Akt, Ras pathways. • Downregulated DEGs in MRGR focus on the AMPK pathway.

Indexed as

Antirheumatic AgentsArthritis, RheumatoidDysbiosisGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMethotrexatePrevotellaAdultAgedAMP-Activated Protein KinasesAnimalsFecal Microbiota TransplantationFemaleHumansMaleMiceMiddle AgedAMP-Activated Protein KinasesAntirheumatic AgentsMethotrexatePhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktGastrointestinal reactionsGut barrier functionGut microbiotaIntestinal gene expressionMethotrexate (MTX)Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

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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.