Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42215790›Full record

ArticleThe EMBO journal2026

The C9orf72/SMCR8 complex maintains microglial homeostasis via RAB8A-ESCRT-mediated lysosomal repair.

Shan Li, Shidong Xu, Feng Li, Qirui Zhao, Penghui Zhang, Qinghua Guan, Xiangxiang Sun, Jundong Bi, Hu Xiao, Yiyuli Tang and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The EMBO journal, 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

14 authors.

Shan Li *Center for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
Shidong Xu *Center for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-5836-4260
Feng LiCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
Qirui ZhaoCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
Penghui ZhangCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
Qinghua GuanCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
Xiangxiang SunCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-5786-3786
Jundong BiCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-4356-6740
Hu XiaoCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
Yiyuli TangCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
Cheng PengCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0448-0094
Qingfeng ChenCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9526-0806
Yonghua WangCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China. Yonghuaw8002@ynu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-7850-9659
Mei YangCenter for Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China. Meiyang@ynu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6097-2405

Funding

MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 32070743MOST | National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 32560156Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department () 202401AS070131Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department () 202401BF070001-015Yunnan Provincial Science and Technology Department () C619300A142Yunnan University (YNU) C1762201000139Yunnan University (YNU) KC-242410334
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Microglia are critical regulators of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Haploinsufficiency of C9orf72, the most frequently mutated gene in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, has been linked to autophagy-lysosomal pathway defects, but the role of C9orf72 in microglia remains unclear. Here, we identify the C9orf72/SMCR8 complex as a key regulator of microglial homeostasis through promoting lysosomal membrane repair. Loss of C9orf72 and SMCR8 in mice causes age‑dependent neuroinflammation and microgliosis, with microglia adopting a disease-associated state. In aged brain and spinal cord tissue, microglia display lysosomal damage marked by galectin‑3 accumulation. Using a lysosomotropic agent to induce lysosomal damage in microglia, we find that C9orf72/SMCR8-deficient cells accumulate damaged lysosomes and show defective recruitment of phosphorylated RAB8A and the Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport (ESCRT) machinery to damaged lysosomes. Notably, mutant microglia accumulate GTP‑bound RAB8A, which becomes hyperphosphorylated and mislocalized to RAB7-positive, LAMP1-negative vesicles. The GTPase-activating activity of the C9orf72/SMCR8 complex is essential for lysosomal repair. Our findings reveal that the C9orf72/SMCR8 complex coordinates RAB8A-ESCRT-mediated lysosomal repair to safeguard microglial homeostasis and limit neuroinflammation.

Indexed as

C9orf72 ProteinCarrier ProteinsLysosomesMicrogliarab GTP-Binding ProteinsAnimalsHomeostasisHumansMiceMice, KnockoutC9orf72 ProteinC9orf72 protein, mouseCarrier ProteinsRab8a protein, mouserab GTP-Binding ProteinsSMCR8 protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID42215790
PMCPMC13324726

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.