Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40772662›Full record

ArticleInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2025

Artesunate Treats Aspergillus fumigatus Keratitis by Inhibiting Fungal Activity and Activating Autophagy Pathway to Reduce Corneal Inflammation.

Yuchen Liu, Xue Tian, Cui Li, Jing Lin, Lina Zhang, Qian Wang, Hong Li, Yuqi Li, Xiangzhi Liu, Guiqiu Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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

10 authors.

Yuchen LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Xue TianDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Cui LiDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Jing LinDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Lina ZhangDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Qian WangDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Hong LiDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Yuqi LiDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Xiangzhi LiuDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
Guiqiu ZhaoDepartment of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of artesunate (ART) on fungal keratitis (FK). Methods: The antifungal properties of ART against Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) were confirmed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), biofilm formation inhibition test, propidium iodide fluorescence, and calcium fluorescence white test. The levels of HSP90, BrlA, AbaA, WetA, CnaA, and CrzA were detected by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) was used to detect the cytotoxicity of ART on RAW 264.7 cells and human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Clinical corneal score, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and corneal fungal plate counts were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of ART on FK in mice. The qRT-PCR, ELISA, and Western blot were used to investigate the effect of ART on inflammatory mediator expression during fungal infection. Results: ART inhibited the growth of A fumigatus, biofilm formation, and conidium adhesion in vitro, and destroyed fungal cell walls and cytomembrane. In vivo, ART effectively reduced corneal fungal load. ART could reduce the inflammation of the cornea by reducing the accumulation of inflammatory cells and down-regulating the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. ART could activate the autophagy pathway to play an anti-inflammatory role in FK by increasing the expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B. Conclusions: ART inhibits fungal growth by inhibiting biofilm formation, destroying fungal cell walls and membranes, and reducing the expression of HSP90 and calcineurin-related factors, and activates the autophagy pathway to reduce the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in FK by upregulating the protein expression of Beclin-1 and LC3B. ART has therapeutic potential for FK.

Indexed as

Antifungal AgentsArtesunateAspergillosisAspergillus fumigatusAutophagyEye Infections, FungalKeratitisAnimalsBiofilmsBlotting, WesternDisease Models, AnimalEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayEpithelium, CornealFemaleHumansMaleAntifungal AgentsArtesunate

Identifiers

PMID40772662
PMCPMC12347252

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.