Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41009450›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2025

Circulating Levels of SMPDL3B Define Metabolic Endophenotypes and Subclinical Kidney Alterations in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Bita Rostami-Afshari, Wesam Elremaly, Neil R McGregor, Katherine Jin Kai Huang, Christopher W Armstrong, Anita Franco, Christian Godbout, Mohamed Elbakry, Rim Abdelli, Alain Moreau

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

10 authors.

Bita Rostami-AfshariDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.
Wesam ElremalyViscogliosi Laboratory in Molecular Genetics of Musculoskeletal Diseases, Azrieli Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-3577-3551
Neil R McGregorDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biochemistry Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
Katherine Jin Kai HuangDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biochemistry Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0171-6820
Christopher W ArmstrongDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biochemistry Institute, 30 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5964-5618
Anita FrancoViscogliosi Laboratory in Molecular Genetics of Musculoskeletal Diseases, Azrieli Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada.
Christian GodboutICanCME Research Network, Azrieli Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada.
Mohamed ElbakryViscogliosi Laboratory in Molecular Genetics of Musculoskeletal Diseases, Azrieli Research Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-3301-069X
Rim AbdelliFaculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada.ORCID 0009-0004-2812-0060
Alain MoreauDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada.

Funding

Open Medicine Foundation Canada NAOpen Medicine Foundation (USA) NAThe Sybilla-Hesse Foundation NA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a complex, multisystem disorder with poorly understood pathophysiological mechanisms. SMPDL3B, a membrane-associated protein expressed in renal podocytes, is essential for lipid raft integrity and glomerular barrier function. We hypothesize that reduced membrane-bound SMPDL3B may contribute to podocyte dysfunction and impaired renal physiology in ME. To investigate this, we quantified soluble SMPDL3B in plasma and urine as a surrogate marker of membrane-bound SMPDL3B status and assessed renal clearance and plasma metabolomic profiles. In a cross-sectional study of 56 ME patients and 16 matched healthy controls, ME patients exhibited significantly lower urine-to-plasma ratios of soluble SMPDL3B and reduced renal clearance, suggesting podocyte-related abnormalities. Plasma metabolomics revealed dysregulation of metabolites associated with renal impairment, including succinic acid, benzoic acid, phenyllactic acid, 1,5-anhydroglucitol, histidine, and citrate. In ME patients, plasma SMPDL3B levels inversely correlated with 1,5-anhydroglucitol concentrations and renal clearance. Multivariable modeling identified the urine-to-plasma SMPDL3B ratio as an independent predictor of clearance. Female ME patients showed more pronounced SMPDL3B alterations, reduced clearance, and greater symptom severity. Non-linear associations between soluble SMPDL3B and lipid species further suggest systemic metabolic remodeling. These findings support soluble SMPDL3B as a potential non-invasive biomarker of renal-podocyte involvement in ME, highlighting sex-specific differences that may inform future therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

KidneyAdultAgedBiomarkersCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMetabolomicsMiddle AgedPodocytesBiomarkers1,5-anhydroglucitolglomerular barrierlipid metabolismmetabolomicsmyalgic encephalomyelitisrenal clearancesex differencesSMPDL3Burinary biomarkers

Identifiers

PMID41009450
PMCPMC12470165

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.