Evidence mapPaperPMID 41198173Full record

ArticleGut2026

Indole-3-propionic acid links gut dysfunction to diabetic retinopathy: a biomarker and novel therapeutic approach.

Ram Prasad, Yvonne Adu-Rutledge, Borhane Ziani, Jason L Floyd, Edgar L Ready, Sarbodeep Paul, Fadeela Sheini, Rati Sharma, Robert F Rosencrans, Sergio Li Calzi and 16 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Gut, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. 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

26 authors.

Ram PrasadDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1931-5040
Yvonne Adu-RutledgeDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Borhane ZianiDepartment of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Jason L FloydDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Edgar L ReadyDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Sarbodeep PaulDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Fadeela SheiniDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Rati SharmaDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Robert F RosencransDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Sergio Li CalziDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8963-1519
Micheli Severo SielskiDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Nicholas G MedawarDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Roshan DuttaDepartment of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Emory Brennis JohnsonDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Xiaoping QiDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Mohit BansalDepartment of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Regina LamendellaWright Labs LLC, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, USA.
Justin R WrightBiology, Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, USA.
Suresh Kumar VermaDepartment of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Michael E BoultonDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Bruce R StevensPhysiology & Functional Genomics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Craig W Vander KooiDepartment of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Ramon C SunDepartment of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Center for Advanced Spatial Biomolecule Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Gavin Y OuditDepartment of Medicine, Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Qiuhong LiDepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Maria B GrantDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA mariagrant@uabmc.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-6470-0255

Funding

VISION SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTERP30EY003039 · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 1985 to 2025
$3.9M
NITRIC OXIDE IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHYR01EY012601 · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 1998 to 2025
$2.1M
UAB Diabetes Research CenterP30DK079626 · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2025 to 2025
$1.3M
ACE2 on gut barrier dysfunction and BRB disruptionR01EY032753 · NEI · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2023 to 2025
$1.1M
Deciphering the Glycan Code in Human Alzheimer's Disease BrainR01AG078702 · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2025 to 2025
$737k
Targeting Glycogen Metabolism in Ewing's Sarcoma: Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic ApplicationsR01CA288696 · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2025 to 2025
$590k
RNA methylation in the progress of heart failureR01HL173677 · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2025 to 2025
$561k
RXR-based therapy for diabetic retinopathyR01EY035539 · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2025 to 2025
$559k
Correction of diabetic retinopathy by mitochondrial transferR01EY034133 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$554k
Aberrant Glycogen in Lung Adenocarcinoma TumorigenesisR01CA266004 · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · 2025 to 2025
$531k
Brain-gut-retina axis in diabetic retinopathyR01EY033620 · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2025 to 2025
$525k
Anti-ceramide immunotherapy for diabetic retinopathyR01EY030766 · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2025 to 2025
$423k
American Heart Association-American Stroke Association 958292NCI NIH HHS R01 CA266004NCI NIH HHS R01 CA288696NCRR NIH HHS S10 RR026887NEI NIH HHS P30 EY003039NEI NIH HHS R01 EY012601NEI NIH HHS R01 EY025383NEI NIH HHS R01 EY028037NEI NIH HHS R01 EY028858NEI NIH HHS R01 EY030766NEI NIH HHS R01 EY032753NEI NIH HHS R01 EY033620NEI NIH HHS R01 EY034133NEI NIH HHS R01 EY035539NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL173677NIA NIH HHS R01 AG066653NIA NIH HHS R01 AG078702NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK079626NINDS NIH HHS RM1 NS133593
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBoth host and microbe metabolism of tryptophan (Trp) is altered in diabetes; however, the molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood.

objectiveWe used strategies to increase either angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) dependent or independent Trp absorption in a model of type 2 diabetes, db/db mice, and tested whether the strategies could prevent development of diabetic retinopathy (DR), the most common microvascular complication of diabetes. Additionally, we investigated levels of Trp metabolites in humans with and without DR.

designEnhanced ACE-2 dependent Trp absorption was achieved with gavage of genetically modified bacteria that preserved intestinal ACE2:sodium coupled neutral amino acid transporter expression. ACE-2 independent Trp absorption was achieved by gavage of the Trp dipeptide (Isoleucine-Trp; IW) absorbed via solute carrier family 15 member 1. Both strategies were used either as a prevention (6 months treatment) or intervention (3 months treatment) and at the conclusion, intestinal, metabolic and retinal studies were performed including spatial mass spectroscopy (MS). Plasma Trp metabolites and gut permeability markers were measured in individuals with T2D with (n=30) and without (n=40) DR and compared with healthy controls (n=35).

results

conclusionNutraceutical strategies that restore Trp metabolism or IPA serve as both a biomarker and a treatment for DR.

Indexed as

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2Diabetic RetinopathyIndolesPropionatesTryptophanAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2AnimalsBiomarkersDisease Models, AnimalFemaleGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHumansIntestinal AbsorptionMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLACE2 protein, humanAce2 protein, mouseAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2Biomarkersindolepropionic acidIndolesPropionatesTryptophanBACTERIAL TRANSLOCATIONGUT INFLAMMATIONINTESTINAL BARRIER FUNCTIONINTESTINAL PERMEABILITYMETABOLOMICS

Identifiers

PMID41198173
PMCPMC12896133

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
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.