Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41917988›Full record

ArticleMicrobiome2026

Tryptophan metabolism mediated by the gut microbiota inhibits pyroptosis via the AhR signaling pathway to maintain intestinal epithelial homeostasis.

Mengqi Liu, Shouren Li, Yalei Cui, Xiaoyan Zhu, Zhichang Wang, Hao Sun, Defeng Li, Boshuai Liu, Yinghua Shi

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Microbiome, 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.

Mengqi Liu *College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Shouren Li *College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Yalei CuiCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Xiaoyan ZhuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Zhichang WangCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Hao SunCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Defeng LiCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China.
Boshuai LiuCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China. boshuailiu@126.com.
Yinghua ShiCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China. annysyh@henau.edu.cn.

Funding

Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System of China CARS-34Science and Technology Innovation Leading Talent in Central Plains No. 244200510010
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe intestinal epithelial barrier protects the gut from pathogen invasion as well as exposure to food antigens and toxins. Increasing evidence has linked the gut microbiota to the function of the intestinal epithelial barrier. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) can treat various intestinal diseases by reshaping the gut microbiota. However, the mechanisms by which FMT exerts its effects across different gastrointestinal conditions remain unclear. Moreover, its limitations are significant, including issues related to donor selection, the complexity of the microbiome, potential infection risks, inconsistent clinical responses, and ethical and legal considerations. Therefore, exploring the microbes and metabolites that mediate the effects of FMT as a replacement for traditional FMT is of great importance. In this study, we aim to investigate the gut microbiota and its metabolites to support the therapeutic role of FMT in intestinal barrier damage and elucidate its potential molecular mechanisms.

resultsOur findings indicate that FMT prevents Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pyroptosis and damage to the colonic epithelial barrier. Mechanistically, FMT treatment reprograms the composition of gut microbiota, increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus reuteri and the levels of tryptophan metabolites (ILA, IAld, and IAA) in the colon, thereby inhibiting pyroptosis and protecting the intestinal epithelial barrier. Importantly, the AhR/NLRP3 axis is essential for the pyroptosis-inhibitory effects of Lactobacillus reuteri and its tryptophan metabolites.

conclusionsOur results provide the first evidence that targeting the regulation of Lactobacillus reuteri and tryptophan metabolism is a promising strategy for inhibiting pyroptosis and improving intestinal epithelial homeostasis. Video Abstract.

Indexed as

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix ProteinsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeIntestinal MucosaPyroptosisReceptors, Aryl HydrocarbonTryptophanAnimalsFecal Microbiota TransplantationHomeostasisHumansIntestinal Barrier FunctionMiceMice, Inbred C57BLSignal TransductionBasic Helix-Loop-Helix ProteinsReceptors, Aryl HydrocarbonTryptophanAryl hydrocarbon receptorFecal microbiota transplantationGut microbiotaIntestinal epithelial homeostasisPyroptosisTryptophan metabolism

Identifiers

PMID41917988
PMCPMC13154461

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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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.