Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40349346›Full record

ArticleCell reports2025

IRE1α promotes phagosomal calcium flux to enhance macrophage fungicidal activity.

Michael J McFadden, Mack B Reynolds, Britton C Michmerhuizen, Einar B Ólafsson, Sofia M Marshall, Faith Anderson Davis, Tracey L Schultz, Takao Iwawaki, Jonathan Z Sexton, Mary X D O'Riordan and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cell reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Phagosome maturation during fungal infection.Current opinion in microbiology · 2026
    Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
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.

Michael J McFaddenDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Mack B ReynoldsDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Britton C MichmerhuizenDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Einar B ÓlafssonDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Sofia M MarshallDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Faith Anderson DavisDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Tracey L SchultzDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Takao IwawakiDepartment of Life Science, Medical Research Institute, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan.
Jonathan Z SextonDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Mary X D O'RiordanDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: oriordan@umich.edu.
Teresa R O'MearaDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. Electronic address: tromeara@umich.edu.

Funding

Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis Training ProgramT32AI007528 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI CARRUTHERS, VERNON BRUCE · 1998 to 2024
$6.8M
TRAINING PROGRAM IN CELL AND MOLECULAR DERMATOLOGYT32AR007197 · NIAMS · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI JAMES TILFORD ELDER, Sunny Y Wong · 1986 to 2026
$4.2M
Mitochondrial stress shapes host responses to bacterial infectionR01AI157384 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI O'RIORDAN, MARY · 2021 to 2025
$2.0M
Laser-based high content imaging microscopeS10OD034245 · OD · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI SEXTON, JONATHAN ZACHARY · 2024 to 2024
$1.4M
Global analysis of circuitry governing fungal activation of host inflammationK22AI137299 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · PI OMEARA, TERESA R. · 2019 to 2021
$303k
NIAID NIH HHS K22 AI137299NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI157384NIAID NIH HHS T32 AI007528NIAMS NIH HHS T32 AR007197NIH HHS S10 OD034245
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The mammalian endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α) is essential for cellular homeostasis and plays key roles in infection responses, including innate immunity and microbicidal activity. While IRE1α functions through the IRE1α-XBP1S axis are known, its XBP1S-independent roles are less well understood, and its functions during fungal infection are still emerging. We demonstrate that Candida albicans activates macrophage IRE1α via C-type lectin receptor signaling independent of protein misfolding, suggesting non-canonical activation. IRE1α enhances macrophage fungicidal activity by promoting phagosome maturation, which is crucial for containing C. albicans hyphae. IRE1α facilitates early phagosomal calcium flux post-phagocytosis, which is required for phagolysosomal fusion. In macrophages lacking the IRE1α endoribonuclease domain, defective calcium flux correlates with fewer ER-early endosome contact sites, suggesting a homeostatic role for IRE1α-promoting membrane contact sites. Overall, our findings illustrate non-canonical IRE1α activation during infection and a function for IRE1α in supporting organelle contact sites to safeguard against rapidly growing microbes.

Indexed as

CalciumEndoribonucleasesMacrophagesPhagosomesProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesAnimalsCandida albicansEndoplasmic ReticulumEndoplasmic Reticulum StressHumansLectins, C-TypeMiceMice, Inbred C57BLPhagocytosisRAW 264.7 CellsCalciumEndoribonucleasesErn1 protein, mouseLectins, C-TypeProtein Serine-Threonine KinasescalciumCandida albicansCP: ImmunologyCP: Microbiologyfungal infectioninnate immunityIRE1αphagosome

Identifiers

PMID40349346
PMCPMC12166542

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.