Evidence mapPaperPMID 41850677Full record

ArticleCellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology2026

Gut Microbiota-Derived Propionate Governs Hepatic N2 Neutrophils in Wilson's Disease.

Xiaoxiao Mi, Rongqiang Liu, Zhenyao Jiang, Mengjuan Tang, Jian Yan, Jing Liu, Yingniang Li, Jun Zheng, Wenjun Yang, Ling Gong and 1 more

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Article in Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Xiaoxiao MiInstitute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Rongqiang LiuDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Zhenyao JiangDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Mengjuan TangSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jian YanInstitute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jing LiuDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yingniang LiSchool of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Jun ZhengDepartment of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Wenjun YangDepartment of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Ling GongDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: gongllyy22@163.com.
Junping ShiInstitute of Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Institute of Hepatology and Metabolic Diseases, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. Electronic address: 20131004@hznu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND &

aimsNeutrophil functions play a pivotal role in hepatic pathogenesis. Our previous work has established that N2-polarized neutrophils promote hepatic fibrogenesis in Wilson's disease depends on hepatic transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) production. However, the regulators governing TGF-β1 production in orchestrating disease-associated N2 neutrophils remain elusive. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) on neutrophil polarization.

methodsFecal metagenomic sequencing and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) profiling were performed on ATP7B-knockout (ATP7B-KO) mice and their wild-type (WT) littermate controls. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments were conducted by transferring feces from WT mice or Akkermansia muciniphila into recipient mice. Additionally, propionate or trichostatin A (TSA) was administered to both ATP7B-KO and WT groups. Mice were assessed using histological analyses, Sirius Red staining, flow cytometry, biochemical assays, immunohistochemistry, measurement of TGF-β1 levels, immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) for gene expression profiling. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, 4D label-free quantitative acetylated proteomics, site-directed mutagenesis, plasmid transfection, co-immunoprecipitation (IP), and luciferase reporter assays were employed.

resultsWe report that Akkermansia muciniphila was markedly reduced in the gut microbiota of mice with Wilson's disease, accompanied by decreased SCFA levels, especially propionate. Additionally, transplantation of fecal bacteria from wild-type mice or A muciniphila could promote an antifibrotic effect, elevate propionate levels, reduce TGF-β1 secretion, and decrease hepatic N2 neutrophils in mice with Wilson's disease. Moreover, administration of propionate also significantly enhanced antifibrotic immunity. Mechanistically, propionate reduced the production of TGF-β1 in hepatocytes by inhibiting histone deacetylase activity, increasing the acetylation of DNAJA3 at sites K134 and K385, thus decreasing expression of DNAJA3. Consistently, gut-derived propionate inversely correlated with hepatic injury severity in patients with Wilson's disease, which could be functionally mediated by TGF-β1.

conclusionsGut microbiota are pivotal for hepatic neutrophil polarization and liver fibrosis in Wilson's disease. Our findings suggest that therapeutic modulation of gut microbiota, SCFA profiles, and TGF-β1 production, particularly when combined with histone deacetylase inhibitors, may represent promising therapeutic approaches for Wilson's disease.

Indexed as

Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeHepatolenticular DegenerationLiverNeutrophilsPropionatesAnimalsCopper-Transporting ATPasesDisease Models, AnimalFecal Microbiota TransplantationHumansHydroxamic AcidsMaleMiceMice, KnockoutTransforming Growth Factor beta1Atp7b protein, mouseCopper-Transporting ATPasesHydroxamic AcidsPropionatesTransforming Growth Factor beta1trichostatin ADNAJA3N2 NeutrophilsPropionateTGF-β1Wilson’s Disease

Identifiers

PMID41850677
PMCPMC13127625

What Socratic holds

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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.