Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41530303›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2026

Distinct effects of different Bacteroides strains on depressive-like behavior via a gut-Th1/Th17 cells-brain axis.

Zhiyu Li, Peilin Qin, Zuoli Sun, Liangkang Li, Peng Liang, Yimei Zhao, Siyu Ren, Gang Wang, Jian Yang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. 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

9 authors.

Zhiyu LiBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Peilin QinBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Zuoli SunBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Liangkang LiBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Peng LiangBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Yimei ZhaoBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Siyu RenBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Gang WangBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. gangwangdoc@ccmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3949-1188
Jian YangBeijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & National Center for Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. yangjian@ccmu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8299-515X

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China) 82171526
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Extensive evidence links gut microbiota to the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD), yet the specific microbial species involved remain unclear. Here, we identify distinct roles of three Bacteroides species-B. uniformis, B. vulgatus, and B. thetaiotaomicron-in depression. B. uniformis increases susceptibility to depression in mice, significantly enhances Th17 cell differentiation in vivo and in vitro, and upregulates hippocampal IL-17A level. However, treatment with SR1001, a Th17 cell inhibitor, alleviates B. uniformis-induced depressive-like behaviors. Conversely, B. thetaiotaomicron and B. vulgatus attenuate depressive behaviors in mice, significantly suppresse the differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells in vivo, and reduce the levels of hippocampal cytokines, including IL-17A, IFN-γ, and TNF-α. Clinical analyses reveal increased Th1 and Th17 cells in MDD patients, correlating with depression severity. B. uniformis is enriched in MDD fecal samples and positively associated with Th17 levels, whereas B. thetaiotaomicron showes an inverse correlation. Mechanistically, targeted metabolomic shows that B. uniformis reduces butyric acid and cholesterol sulfate, whereas B. thetaiotaomicron increases butyric acid, propionic acid, and biotin, all of which are linked to Th1 and Th17 regulation. These findings highlight the role of Bacteroides species in depression via a gut-Th1/Th17 cells-brain axis, providing mechanistic insights and ideas for therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

BacteroidesBrainDepressionGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMajor Depressive DisorderTh17 CellsTh1 CellsAnimalsBehavior, AnimalHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BL

Identifiers

PMID41530303
PMCPMC12905409

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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.