Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41715099›Full record

ArticleRespiratory research2026

Indole-acetaldehyde from Rothia mucilaginosa activates the PXR/NRF2 axis to enhance alveolar macrophage phagocytosis and protect against ARDS.

Wensi Fan, Tingting Tan, Chujun Yang, Yongmei Cao, Cui Jin, Xiaohao Liu, Kangni Shang, Junjie Wang, Jingjing Xu, Yingchuan Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Respiratory 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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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Wensi Fan *Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Tingting Tan *Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Chujun Yang *Department of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Yongmei CaoDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Cui JinDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Xiaohao LiuDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Kangni ShangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Junjie WangDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Jingjing XuDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China.
Yingchuan LiDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301# Yanchang Middle Road, Jing`an District, Shanghai, 200072, People's Republic of China. yingchuan_li@tongji.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82102252National Natural Science Foundation of China 82272245Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 202440093, 2024ZZ1022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite advances in therapeutic strategies, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mortality remains high. Growing evidence links respiratory microbiome composition to ARDS outcomes. This investigation sought to elucidate how colonizing bacteria and their metabolites influence ARDS pathogenesis.

methodsBronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with pulmonary infections was analyzed by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to identify characteristic bacteria. Bacterial culture supernatants were analyzed by untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS) to identify metabolites. A murine ARDS model was established through intratracheal LPS instillation. Single-cell sequencing datasets from the GEO database were analyzed to reveal differential cell populations and functional alterations in murine ARDS. Potential molecular mechanisms were explored through molecular docking, RNA-seq analysis, Western boltting, and targeted gene knockdown in murine and cellular model.

resultsR. mucilaginosa demonstrated enrichment in patients without ARDS (nARDS). The bacterial culture supernatant conferred substantial protection in murine models, whereas viable bacteria showed minimal efficacy. LC-MS analysis identified indole-3-acetaldehyde (IAAld) as the predominant metabolite in the supernatant. Single-cell sequencing suggested that resident alveolar macrophages (RAMs) were pivotal cells in murine ARDS model. IAAld enhanced RAMs phagocytosis, facilitating neutrophil and LPS clearance. Mechanistic studies revealed that IAAld likely activated PXR signaling, promoted NRF2 nuclear translocation, and upregulated the phagocytosis-related gene CD36. Targeted PXR knockdown eliminated these protective effects.

conclusionThe respiratory commensal R. mucilaginosa synthesizes IAAld, which—independent of bacterial colonization per se—ameliorates ARDS through PXR/NRF2/CD36 axis activation, thereby enhancing macrophage phagocytic function. These findings suggest that therapeutic targeting of microbial metabolites represents a novel ARDS treatment paradigm.

Indexed as

AcetaldehydeIndolesMacrophages, AlveolarNF-E2-Related Factor 2PhagocytosisPregnane X ReceptorRespiratory Distress SyndromeAnimalsHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSignal TransductionAcetaldehydeIndolesNfe2l2 protein, mouseNF-E2-Related Factor 2Pregnane X ReceptorIndole-3-acetaldehydePhagocytosisPregnane X receptorResident alveolar macrophageRothia mucilaginosa

Identifiers

PMID41715099
PMCPMC12961788

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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.