Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41053195›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Adipocyte FMO3-derived TMAO induces WAT dysfunction and metabolic disorders by promoting inflammasome activation in ageing.

Thashma Ganapathy, Juntao Yuan, Melody Yuen-Man Ho, Kelvin Ka-Lok Wu, Md Moinul Hoque, Baomin Wang, Xiaomu Li, Kai Wang, Martin Wabitsch, Xuejia Feng and 5 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing 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

12 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Gut microbes · 2026
    Review
  3. Trimethylamine-N-oxide: the microbial cue in immune-mediated disorders.Trends in endocrinology and metabolism: TEM · 2026
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Review
  12. 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

15 authors.

Thashma Ganapathy *Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Juntao Yuan *Department of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Melody Yuen-Man HoDepartment of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Kelvin Ka-Lok WuDepartment of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Md Moinul HoqueDepartment of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Baomin WangDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Xiaomu LiDepartment of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Kai WangDepartment of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Martin WabitschDivision of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine University Medical Center Ulm, German Center for Child and Adolescent Health, Ulm, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6795-8430
Xuejia FengFaculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Yongxia NiuFaculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China.
Kekao LongDepartment of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Qizhou LianFaculty of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8189-7160
Yuyan ZhuDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Kenneth King-Yip ChengDepartment of Health Technology and Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China. kenneth.ky.cheng@polyu.edu.hk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7274-0839

Funding

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) 01GL2407AHong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong PolyU) P0036848National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 92357305Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (RGC, UGC) 15105119Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (RGC, UGC) C5044-23GShenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission 20210324130202006
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) contributes to cardio-metabolic diseases, with hepatic flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) recognized as its primary source. Here we demonstrate that elevated adipocyte FMO3 and its derived TMAO trigger white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction and its related metabolic disorders in ageing. In adipocytes, ageing or p53 activation upregulates FMO3 and TMAO levels. Adipocyte-specific ablation of FMO3 attenuates TMAO accumulation in WAT and circulation, leading to enhanced glucose metabolism and energy and lipid homeostasis in ageing and obese mice. These improvements are associated with reduced senescence, fibrosis and inflammation in WAT. Proteomics analysis identified TMAO-interacting proteins involved in inflammasome activation in adipocytes and macrophages. Mechanistically, TMAO binds to the central inflammasome adaptor protein ASC, promoting caspase-1 activation and interleukin-1β production. Our findings uncover a pivotal role for adipocyte FMO3 in modulating TMAO production and WAT dysfunction by promoting inflammasome activation in ageing via an autocrine and paracrine manner.

Indexed as

AdipocytesAdipose Tissue, WhiteAgingInflammasomesMetabolic DiseasesMethylaminesOxygenasesAnimalsCARD Signaling Adaptor ProteinsCaspase 1Interleukin-1betaMacrophagesMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutCARD Signaling Adaptor ProteinsCaspase 1dimethylaniline monooxygenase (N-oxide forming)InflammasomesInterleukin-1betaMethylaminesOxygenasesPycard protein, mousetrimethyloxamine

Identifiers

PMID41053195
PMCPMC12501297

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

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.