Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42082968›Full record

ArticleJournal of biomedical science2026

β-Sitosterol β-D-glucoside (BSSG) triggers intestinal inflammation in zebrafish and mouse models prior to neurodegeneration onset.

Francesca Terrin, Sofia Faggin, Edoardo Bizzotto, Davide Santinello, Silvia Cerantola, Giuseppe Borsato, Fabrizio Fabris, Alessandro Scarso, Rosario Licitra, Graziano Guella and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of biomedical science, 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. Phytochemical Characterization ofMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
    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

17 authors.

Francesca TerrinDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Sofia FagginDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Largo Meneghetti 2, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Edoardo BizzottoDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Davide SantinelloDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Silvia CerantolaDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Largo Meneghetti 2, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Giuseppe BorsatoDepartment of Molecular Science and Nanosystems, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, 30172, Mestre Venice, Italy.
Fabrizio FabrisDepartment of Molecular Science and Nanosystems, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, 30172, Mestre Venice, Italy.
Alessandro ScarsoDepartment of Molecular Science and Nanosystems, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, 30172, Mestre Venice, Italy.
Rosario LicitraDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
Graziano GuellaDepartment of Biology, University of Trento, 38123, Trento, Italy.
Gabriele SalesDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Stefano CagninDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Laura TreuDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Luigi BubaccoDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
Maria Cecilia GironDepartment of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Largo Meneghetti 2, 35131, Padua, Italy. cecilia.giron@unipd.it.
Nicoletta PlotegherDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy. nicoletta.plotegher@unipd.it.
Luisa Dalla ValleDepartment of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy. luisa.dallavalle@unipd.it.

Funding

Department of Biology PostDoc Fellowship 2024Department of Biology Intramural Grant Seed 2020Department of Biology Intramural Grant Seed 2022Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences PostDoc Fellowship ARD-B 2020Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences PostDoc Fellowship ARD-B 2023MUR/University of Padova PhD Fellowship 2020National Center For Gene Therapy And Drugs Based On RNA Technology Neurodegeneration Project ID: CN00000041 - SP. 3San Camillo Hospital Grant, Treviso, Italy UNIPD-DSF-PRID-2023
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGlucosylated-sterols can be synthetized endogenously, absorbed through the diet or derive from bacterial infection. Their clinical relevance is currently underestimated, even though their imbalance has been associated with an increased risk of neurodegeneration over the lifespan. We studied the detrimental effects elicited by dietary consumption of the plant-derived β-sitosterol β-D-glucoside (BSSG), known to be associated with the occurrence of ALS-PDC, to elucidate its potential mechanism of action.

methodsZebrafish larvae and adults, as well as mice, were treated with BSSG administered directly in the water or via customized food pellet, respectively. Since the intestine was identified as the primary target tissue, its morphological and functional characteristics were assessed, together with transcriptional profiling and gut microbiota sequencing. Ex vivo analysis of zebrafish gut contractility was applied to evaluate intestinal neuromuscular responses. Mutant and transgenic zebrafish lines were used to explore a potential BSSG mechanism of action.

resultsBSSG induced intestinal inflammation in both zebrafish and mouse models. This previously unknown effect was evidenced by gut dysmotility and inflammatory response. Transcriptomic analyses revealed increased expression of inflammation-related genes in the intestine of both zebrafish and mice, while preliminary gut microbiota analyses suggested the onset of dysbiosis. Transgenic and mutant zebrafish lines, depleted of genes involved in glucocorticoids synthesis and activity, evidenced that BSSG likely interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor, potentially impairing its canonical anti-inflammatory activity.

conclusionsWe identified novel pathways altered by dietary BSSG exposure. This molecule appears to initially induce gut inflammation, leading to changes in intestinal morphology and function, and may contribute to neurodegeneration through disruption of the well-known gut-brain axis.

Indexed as

GlucosidesInflammationIntestinesNeurodegenerative DiseasesSitosterolsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMiceZebrafishGlucosideslyonisideSitosterolsBSSGGlucocorticoid receptorGlucosylated sterolsGut–brain axisGut microbiotaIntestinal inflammationMouse modelZebrafish model

Identifiers

PMID42082968
PMCPMC13137512

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.