Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41300363›Full record

ArticleBiology2025

Folate Attenuates Ulcerative Colitis via PI3K/AKT/NF-κB/MLCK Axis Inhibition to Restore Intestinal Barrier Integrity.

Shize Zhang, Tian Cheng, Yuang Chen, Mengqin Wang, Guangji Wang, Jiye Aa

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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

6 authors.

Shize ZhangJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Tian ChengJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Yuang ChenJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Mengqin WangJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Guangji WangJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
Jiye AaJiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5096-4025

Funding

CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences 2021-I2M-5-011Leading Technology Foundation Research Project of Jiangsu Province BK20192005National Key Special Project of Science and Technology for Innovation Drugs of China 2017ZX09301013
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Vitamin homeostasis plays a critical role in inflammatory bowel disease management, yet the protective mechanisms and clinical utility of specific vitamins remain incompletely characterized. Within this context, a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis leveraging genetic instruments for measuring circulating vitamin levels identified folate as a protective factor against ulcerative colitis (UC). To validate these findings, a DSS-induced colitis model was established with serial serum folate measurements. Therapeutic folate supplements were subsequently administered, followed by a comprehensive evaluation of epithelial barrier modulation through in vivo and recombinant TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced in vitro models. This included assessment of junctional proteins, ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy, and functional quantification of barrier integrity using transepithelial electrical resistance with paracellular permeability assays in epithelial monolayers. Molecular mechanisms were investigated through RNA sequencing complemented by immunoblot validation of key pathway components. The results demonstrated decreased serum folate levels in DSS-induced colitis mice, whereas folate supplementation ameliorated disease severity and attenuated intestinal inflammation and histopathological damage. Crucially, folate restored epithelial barrier structural integrity and function both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, folate mediated barrier restoration through suppression of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB/MLCK/MLC2 signaling axis. Collectively, the results of this study provide mechanistic insights that support the use of folate as an active therapeutic molecule in patients with UC.

Indexed as

folateintestinal barriermendelian randomizationPI3K/AKT/NF-κB/MLCK/MLC2 axisulcerative colitis

Identifiers

PMID41300363
PMCPMC12650468

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.