Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42894231›Full record

ArticleJournal of neuroinflammation2026

SPRY1 suppresses microglial fatty acid oxidation by retaining FATP3 on the endoplasmic reticulum in Alzheimer's disease.

Yu-Ge Zhang, Shi-Yao Li, Yi-Zhen Hu, Yi Ding, Yu-Tong Zhang, Hui-Wen Zhang, Yong-Jie Zhang, Lu Xu, Zhi-Yuan Zhang, Lei Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neuroinflammation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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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

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Yu-Ge Zhang *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Shi-Yao Li *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yi-Zhen Hu *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yi DingMed-X Institute, Center for Immunological and Metabolic Diseases and Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, China.
Yu-Tong ZhangSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Hui-Wen ZhangSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yong-Jie ZhangDepartment of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lianyungang Medical-Education Innovation and Research Center, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. zhangyongjie@njmu.edu.cn.
Lu XuSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. xulu@njmu.edu.cn.
Zhi-Yuan ZhangSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. zzy@njmu.edu.cn.
Lei LiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Longmian Avenue 101, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. NJMULL@njmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8486-1101

Funding

Key Project of Lianyungang Medical-Education Innovation and Research Center LYGZD06National Natural Science Foundation of China 82401689National Natural Science Foundation of China 82471218Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF GZC20231153Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province JX10114388
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMicroglial metabolic dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a key driver of neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the specific metabolic regulators linking lipid metabolism to pathological activation remain poorly defined.

methodsWe performed integrative transcriptomic analysis on four human AD brain datasets to identify core metabolic hubs. Sprouty homolog 1 (SPRY1) expression was examined in human post-mortem tissues, and its functional role was validated in primary microglia, Drosophila, and APP/PS1-21 mice using genetic knockdown, behavioral assays, and histological analysis. Moreover, we employed co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and metabolic flux assays to elucidate the underlying pathways.

resultsWe identified SPRY1 as a key hub gene upregulated in the hippocampus of AD patients and mouse models. SPRY1 was predominantly expressed in plaque-associated microglia, and specifically correlated with advancing age, Aβ load and Braak stage. Functionally, microglial SPRY1 knockdown enhanced Aβ phagocytosis, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, and protected neurons from Aβ-induced damage in vitro. In vivo, glial-specific knockdown of the SPRY1 homolog sty rescued cognitive and motor deficits in AD flies, while microglia-specific knockdown in mice reduced amyloidosis and neuroinflammation. Mechanistically, SPRY1 acted as a metabolic switch by retaining fatty acid transport protein 3 (FATP3) on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This interaction blocked FATP3 translocation to mitochondria, thereby reducing fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and promoting lipid droplet (LD) accumulation, which drives a microglial pro-inflammatory phenotype.

conclusionsThis study unveils a novel SPRY1-FATP3 retention mechanism that links impaired fatty acid metabolism to neuroinflammation. Targeting this axis represents a promising strategy to reprogram microglial metabolism and provide neuroprotection in AD.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseEndoplasmic ReticulumFatty AcidsMembrane ProteinsMicrogliaPhosphoproteinsAnimalsHumansMaleMiceMice, TransgenicOxidation-ReductionFatty AcidsMembrane ProteinsPhosphoproteinsAlzheimer’s diseaseFATP3Fatty acid oxidationLipid dropletLipid metabolismMicrogliaNeuroinflammationSPRY1

Identifiers

PMID42894231
PMCPMC13679128

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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.