Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41954708›Full record

ArticleMolecular neurobiology2026

Synergistic Neuroprotection of MFSD2A Overexpression and DHA Supplementation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Song Luo, Qiang Zheng, Miaomiao Wang, Xiaorui Wang, Bo Ma, Dongliang Liu, Li Li, Yi Lu, Daoqian Sang, Lijuan Yang

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Molecular neurobiology, 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. 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

10 authors.

Song Luo *Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Qiang Zheng *Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Miaomiao Wang *Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Xiaorui WangDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Bo MaDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Dongliang LiuDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Li LiDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Yi LuDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Daoqian SangDepartment of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China.
Lijuan YangDepartment of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University, No. 801 Zhihuai Road, Longzihu District, Bengbu, 233000, Anhui, China. ylj_1986_edu@163.com.

Funding

Anhui Province Health and Health Research Project Youth Project AHWJ2024Aa30089Anhui Province "Jianghuai Famous Doctors" Cultivation Project 2022Bengbu Health and Health Research Project Intestinal Transplantation Technology Clinical Special General Project BBWK2024B204Bengbu science and technology innovation guidance project 20230131Bengbu Think Tank Construction and Social Science Planning Project BB21B032Clinical Medicine Research and Translational Project of Anhui Province 202304295107020076Natural Science Key Project of Bengbu Medical College 2020byzd169University Natural Science Research Project of Anhui Province 2022AH051480
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor neuron loss, with limited effective therapies. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) exhibits neuroprotective effects, but its limited transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts clinical utility. Major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2A (MFSD2A) is the primary transporter of DHA into the central nervous system, yet its role in ALS remains unclear. This study investigated the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of MFSD2A overexpression combined with DHA supplementation in male SOD1^G93A ALS mice. We found that MFSD2A expression was markedly reduced in ALS mice and correlated with impaired motor function and neuronal damage. DHA supplementation or MFSD2A overexpression partially improved behavioral deficits, while their combination produced synergistic benefits. Histological analyses revealed attenuated neuronal degeneration and reduced muscle fibrosis following combined treatment. Furthermore, MFSD2A physically interacted with the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21, regulating glycolytic metabolism by modulating key enzymes (GLUT1, HK2, LDHA, PDK1) and products (lactate/pyruvate and NADH/NADPH ratio). TRIM21 knockdown reversed MFSD2A-mediated neuroprotection and impaired glycolytic metabolism, indicating its critical role in this pathway. The combined intervention also suppressed systemic inflammation and oxidative stress by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and restoring antioxidant enzyme activities (GSH-Px), while reducing lipid peroxidation (MDA). These findings suggest that MFSD2A facilitates DHA's neuroprotective effects by enhancing glycolytic metabolism and mitigating neuroinflammation. This study highlights MFSD2A and DHA as promising therapeutic targets in ALS and provides novel insights into overcoming BBB transport limitations for neurodegenerative disease treatment.

Indexed as

Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisDietary SupplementsDocosahexaenoic AcidsMembrane Transport ProteinsNeuroprotectionNeuroprotective AgentsSymportersAnimalsHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicOxidative StressDocosahexaenoic AcidsMembrane Transport ProteinsMfsd2a protein, mouseNeuroprotective AgentsSymportersAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)Blood–brain barrier (BBB)Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)Major facilitator superfamily domain-containing protein 2A (MFSD2A)Neuroprotection

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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.