Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41920144›Full record

ArticleInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2026

PIM1 Inhibition Alleviates Aspergillus fumigatus Keratitis by Regulating DDX41-Mediated STING Signaling Pathway.

Fang Han, Leyi Wang, Jiayin Wu, Hanlin Ma, Xia Luo, Jianqiao Li

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, 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

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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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.

Fang HanDepartment of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Leyi WangDepartment of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Jiayin WuDepartment of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Hanlin MaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Xia LuoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Jianqiao LiDepartment of Ophthalmology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Fungal keratitis (FK) is a severe, sight-threatening infection with limited therapeutic options. Although the proto-oncogene PIM1 has been implicated in various inflammatory diseases, its role and underlying mechanisms in FK remain unknown. Methods: We investigated the expression and function of PIM1 in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) and a mouse model of Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis using genetic and pharmacologic approaches. Protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation events were analyzed by co-immunoprecipitation, GST pull-down, and in vitro kinase assays. Inflammatory cytokine production and signaling pathway activation were assessed using ELISA, quantitative RT-PCR, and Western blot. Results: A. fumigatus infection significantly upregulated PIM1 expression in both HCECs and mouse corneas. PIM1 overexpression enhanced the fungus-induced inflammatory response, whereas PIM1 knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition attenuated the production of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-β). Mechanistically, PIM1 directly interacted with and promoted serine phosphorylation of the DNA sensor DDX41. This PIM1-DDX41 interaction was essential for activating the downstream STING-TBK1-IRF3 signaling pathway. The proinflammatory effects of PIM1 were abolished by DDX41 knockdown or STING inhibition. Importantly, both genetic silencing and pharmacologic inhibition of PIM1 alleviated disease severity, reduced fungal load, and suppressed the DDX41/STING-mediated inflammatory cascade in the mouse model of FK. Conclusions: Our findings reveal a novel mechanism by which PIM1 aggravates A. fumigatus keratitis through activation of the DDX41-STING signaling axis, highlighting PIM1 as a promising therapeutic target for FK.

Indexed as

AspergillosisAspergillus fumigatusEye Infections, FungalGene Expression RegulationKeratitisMembrane ProteinsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1AnimalsBlotting, WesternCells, CulturedcGAS-STING Signaling PathwayCytokinesDisease Models, AnimalEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayEpithelium, CornealHumansCytokinesMembrane ProteinsPIM1 protein, humanProto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1STING Protein

Identifiers

PMID41920144
PMCPMC13050013

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.