Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41872511›Full record

ArticleEMBO molecular medicine2026

Betrixaban activates cGAS and ERVs to promote dual nucleic-sensing antiviral immunity.

Xingyu Chen, Yang Zhao, Yunfei Xie, Tianyi Liu, Haocheng Wang, Xiao Wang, Xuefei Guo, Fuping You

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in EMBO molecular medicine, 2026. 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

8 authors.

Xingyu Chen *Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China.
Yang Zhao *Institute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China. 2311210031@stu.pku.edu.cn.ORCID 0009-0002-1282-8975
Yunfei XieInstitute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China.
Tianyi LiuInstitute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China.
Haocheng WangInstitute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China.
Xiao WangInstitute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China. xwang2015@bjmu.edu.cn.
Xuefei GuoInstitute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China. guoxf@stu.pku.edu.cn.
Fuping YouInstitute of Systems Biomedicine, Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tumor Systems Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Peking University Health Science Center, 100191, Beijing, China. fupingyou@hsc.pku.edu.cn.

Funding

Beijing Natural Science Foundation Z210014MOST | National Key Research and Development Program of China (NKPs) 2021YFC2302602MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 8235071080, 3247080250, 31570891, 31872736, 32022028, 81991505, 82201928
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Broad-spectrum host-directed antivirals are urgently needed, as virus-targeted drugs often suffer from narrow specificity and rapid resistance. Here, we reported that Betrixaban (BT), an FDA-approved oral Factor Xa inhibitor, induced a robust antiviral state through dual innate immune pathways. Mechanistically, we identified BT as the first small molecule to directly bind and activate the DNA sensor cGAS to induce cGAMP production. Concurrently, BT inhibited histone deacetylases (HDACs), leading to chromatin de-repression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) and production of immunostimulatory double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) that engaged RIG-I/MDA5. These combined signal cascades triggered strong type I interferon responses and conferred broad-spectrum antiviral protection against RNA and DNA viruses in vitro and in vivo. These findings unveil a unique host-directed antiviral strategy wherein a small-molecule drug engages dual nucleic acid-sensing pathway, and suggest repurposing BT as an orally broad-spectrum antiviral.

Indexed as

Antiviral AgentsBenzamidesNucleotidyltransferasesPyridinesAnimalscGAS-STING Signaling PathwayCyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Adenosine Monophosphate SynthaseDNA VirusesHost-Directed TherapyHumansImmunity, InnateInnate Immunity RecognitionMiceNucleotides, CyclicRNA VirusesAntiviral AgentsBenzamidescGAS protein, humanCyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Adenosine Monophosphate SynthaseNucleotides, CyclicNucleotidyltransferasesPyridinesBetrixabancGAS-STINGEndogenous RetrovirusesHost-directed AntiviralRIG-I/MDA5

Identifiers

PMID41872511
PMCPMC13179341

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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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.