Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41144502›Full record

ArticlePLoS pathogens2025

Retinol binding protein 4 enhances cellular cholesterol uptake to facilitate influenza A virus infection.

Hejiao Zhao, Yalu Zhang, Qingbing Han, Huanan Li, Wenjun Liu, Lei Sun, Yingli Shang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS pathogens, 2025. 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

7 authors.

Hejiao ZhaoDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
Yalu ZhangDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
Qingbing HanDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
Huanan LiDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.
Wenjun LiuCAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Lei SunCAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Yingli ShangDepartment of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5052-8346

Funding

Key Research and Development Program of Shandong ProvinceNational Key Research and Development Program of ChinaShandong Modern Technology System of Agricultural Industry
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Viruses hijack host cell machinery to facilitate their own replication. Therefore, identifying key cellular factors and processes involved in viral infection is crucial for developing host-directed therapies. Herein, we demonstrate that retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), a lipocalin family member and major retinol carrier, is significantly induced by influenza A virus (IAV) infection in both cellular models and clinical patients. Moreover, RBP4 deficiency impairs IAV replication both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, RBP4 promotes the expression of CD36, a cholesterol uptake receptor protein, thereby increasing cellular cholesterol levels. This elevation in cholesterol subsequently boosts cell-surface sialic acid levels, facilitating IAV attachment. Consequently, enforced expression of CD36 restores IAV replication in RBP4-deficient cells and mice. In summary, our study identifies RBP4 as a pivotal host factor that facilitates IAV infection by modulating cellular cholesterol homeostasis.

Indexed as

CholesterolInfluenza A virusInfluenza, HumanOrthomyxoviridae InfectionsRetinol-Binding Proteins, PlasmaAnimalsCD36 AntigensHumansMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutVirus ReplicationCD36 AntigensCholesterolRBP4 protein, humanRbp4 protein, mouseRetinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma

Identifiers

PMID41144502
PMCPMC12558542

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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 Socratic graph.