Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42671502›Full record

ReviewMolecular neurobiology2026

The Gut Microbiota-Astrocyte Axis: New Insights into the Mechanisms of Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Huaqiang Li, Xiaobo Liu, Congjie Lei, Xianjun Xiao, Xiaoshen Hu, Xixi Chen, Dongling Zhong, Peiwen Xue, Jin Fan, Yuxi Li and 3 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Molecular neurobiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

13 authors.

Huaqiang Li *School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xiaobo Liu *School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Congjie Lei *Zigong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zigong, Sichuan, China.
Xianjun Xiao *School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xiaoshen HuSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xixi ChenSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Dongling ZhongSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Peiwen XueSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jin FanAcupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yuxi LiSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yonggang ZhangPi du District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. 569761744@qq.com.
Rongjiang JinSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. cdzyydxjrj@126.com.
Juan LiSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. 785939016@qq.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are two prevalent chronic conditions that interact bidirectionally, with their high comorbidity posing a serious global health challenge. Recent studies highlight the gut-brain axis, particularly the gut microbiota-astrocyte axis, as a key mechanism underlying this comorbidity. The review reveals a common gut dysbiosis pattern in both T2DM and MDD, marked by reduced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria and elevated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-associated pro-inflammatory bacteria. Nevertheless, the two diseases present opposing astrocytic states: overactivation in T2DM and inhibition in MDD. In the progression from T2DM to secondary MDD, microbiota dysbiosis induces astrocyte hyperactivation in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, which in turn reduces glutamine synthetase (GS) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), exacerbates neuroinflammation, promotes insulin resistance (IR) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis overactivation, and disrupts the glutamate-glutamine (Glu-Gln) cycle, ultimately culminating in MDD. Conversely, as MDD progresses to secondary T2DM, microbiota dysbiosis suppresses astrocyte activation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, which similarly aggravates neuroinflammation, promotes IR, and disrupts the Glu-Gln cycle, thereby contributing to T2DM. Together, these results advance our knowledge of the bidirectional interplay between T2DM and MDD, while simultaneously identifying potential nodes for therapeutic modulation.

Indexed as

AstrocytesDiabetes Mellitus, Type 2Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeMajor Depressive DisorderAnimalsComorbidityHumansAstrocytesGut-brain axisGut microbiotaMajor depressive disorderType 2 diabetes mellitus

Identifiers

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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.