Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41670763›Full record

ArticleNeurochemical research2026

AQP4-IgG-Induced Astrocyte-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Carrying Mitochondrial DNA Regulate the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway to Drive Microglial Activation and Neuromyelitis Optica.

Juan Zhou, Haipeng Li, Ying Wen, Lingli He, Yangli He, Heng Meng

Abstract read
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Article in Neurochemical research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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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

6 authors.

Juan ZhouDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Ave, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
Haipeng LiDepartment of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, No. 102, Luojiajing, Beihu District, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.
Ying WenDepartment of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, No. 102, Luojiajing, Beihu District, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.
Lingli HeDepartment of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, No. 102, Luojiajing, Beihu District, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.
Yangli HeDepartment of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, No. 102, Luojiajing, Beihu District, Chenzhou, Hunan, China.
Heng MengDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, 613 West Huangpu Ave, Guangzhou, 510632, China. menghengjinan@163.com.

Funding

Hunan Provinclal Natural Science Foundation Regional Joint Fund 2023JJ50372Research Project of Hunan Provincial Health Commission D202303077684Xiangnan University Scientific Research Project 2025XJ88
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare but serious inflammatory demyelinating disease. A key characteristic of NMOSD is the presence of a pathogenic autoantibody in serum called aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin G (AQP4-IgG). This study investigates the mechanism of astrocyte-derived small extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to promote AQP4-IgG-induced microglial activation in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) via the toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. Serum IgG was isolated from NMOSD patients (AQP4-IgG) and healthy controls (Con-IgG). Astrocytes were treated with AQP4-IgG or Con-IgG. EVs were isolated via ultracentrifugation, characterized, and examined for internalization. Microglia were exposed to EVs, and mtDNA levels were assessed. An NMO mouse model was established, with neurological damage, mouse behaviors, tissue damage, and microglial characterization evaluated using modified neurological severity score, open-field test, rotarod test, luxol fast blue staining, and flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokines, TLR9, MyD88, p65, IκBα, p-p65, and p-IκBα in BV2 cells and spinal cord tissues were analyzed via ELISA, RT-qPCR, and western blot. AQP4-IgG-induced astrocyte-derived EVs increased Iba1-high-expressing and CD86/tumor necrosis factor-α-high-expressing cells, reduced CD206/transforming growth factor-β-high-expressing cells, and boosted inflammatory responses. AQP4-IgG-induced EVs carried mtDNA to activate microglia via the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway inhibition reversed AQP4-IgG-induced EVs' promotion on microglial activation. In vivo, AQP4-IgG-induced EVs-mtDNA exacerbated microglial activation and NMO through the TLR9/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. AQP4-IgG-induced EVs carried mtDNA to upregulate TLR9, further activating the MyD88/NF-κB pathway, thereby promoting microglial activation and transition toward pro-inflammatory gene-high-expressing cells to drive NMO progression.

Indexed as

Aquaporin 4AstrocytesDNA, MitochondrialExtracellular VesiclesImmunoglobulin GMicrogliaNeuromyelitis OpticaAnimalsFemaleHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMyeloid Differentiation Factor 88NF-kappa BSignal TransductionAquaporin 4DNA, MitochondrialImmunoglobulin GMyd88 protein, mouseMyeloid Differentiation Factor 88NF-kappa BTLR9 protein, humanTlr9 protein, mouseToll-Like Receptor 9Aquaporin-4 immunoglobulin gAstrocyte-Derived small extracellular vesiclesMicrogliaMitochondrial DNANeuroinflammationNeuromyelitis opticaToll-like receptor 9/myeloid differentiation primary response 88/Nuclear factor-kappa b

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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.