Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41597228›Full record

ArticleCells2026

Akhirin Functions as an Innate Immune Barrier to Preserve Neurogenic Niche Homeostasis During Mouse Brain Development.

Mikiko Kudo, Tenta Ohkubo, Taichi Sugawara, Takashi Irie, Jun Hatakeyama, Shigehiko Tamura, Kenji Shimamura, Tomohiko Wakayama, Naoki Matsuo, Kinichi Nakashima and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cells, 2026. 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. Article
  2. 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

12 authors.

Mikiko KudoDivision of Molecular Neuroimmunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-9363-7793
Tenta OhkuboDepartment of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of System Life Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Taichi SugawaraDepartment of Histology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
Takashi IrieDepartment of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.
Jun HatakeyamaDepartment of Brain Morphogenesis, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
Shigehiko TamuraDepartment of Molecular Cell Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.ORCID 0009-0000-1334-6869
Kenji ShimamuraDepartment of Brain Morphogenesis, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-7102-6513
Tomohiko WakayamaDepartment of Histology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan.
Naoki MatsuoDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-0988-4706
Kinichi NakashimaDepartment of Stem Cell Biology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-5901-9628
Takahiro MasudaDivision of Molecular Neuroimmunology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.ORCID 0000-0003-3687-452X
Kunimasa OhtaDepartment of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of System Life Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-4564-9757

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Neurogenesis is tightly regulated by complex interactions among neural stem and progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs), blood vessels, microglia, and extracellular matrix components within the neurogenic niche. In the embryonic brain, NSCs reside along the ventricular surface, where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) directly regulates their proliferation. Here, we identify Akhirin (AKH) as a critical regulator that preserves the integrity of the NSC niche during mouse brain development. At embryonic day 14.5, AKH is secreted and enriched at the apical surface of choroid plexus epithelial cells and the ventricular lining. Loss of AKH leads to increases the inflammatory cytokine expression in the CSF and disrupts NSC niche homeostasis. Furthermore, AKH is cleaved upon inflammatory stimulation, and its LCCL domain directly binds bacteria, thereby preventing their spread. These findings reveal that AKH functions as a protective barrier molecule within the developing neurogenic niche, providing immune protection and preserving NSC niche homeostasis during periods when the innate immune defenses are still immature.

Indexed as

BrainHomeostasisImmunity, InnateNerve Tissue ProteinsNeurogenesisStem Cell NicheAnimalsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNeural Stem CellsNeurodevelopmentNerve Tissue ProteinsAkhirinbrain developmentbrain innate immune barrierembryonic neurogenesisneurogenic niche homeostasisNSC/NPC niche

Identifiers

PMID41597228
PMCPMC12839204

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.