Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42530913›Full record

ArticleInvestigative ophthalmology & visual science2026

Topical Glycolysis Inhibition Restores MAVS-Associated Antiviral Signaling in Herpes Simplex Keratitis.

Wei Xu, Huiru Liu, Zihan Cheng, Qixin Li, Xiaoqing Wu, Zesheng He, Decheng Xiao, Dan Jiang, Wei Chen

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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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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.

Wei XuNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Huiru LiuNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Zihan ChengNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Qixin LiNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Xiaoqing WuNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Zesheng HeNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Decheng XiaoNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Dan JiangNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Wei ChenNational Clinical Research Center for Ocular Diseases, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Purpose: Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) is a leading cause of infectious corneal blindness. Host antiviral responses, particularly type I interferon (IFN) signaling, are impaired during corneal herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, partly due to viral immune evasion and metabolic reprogramming. This study investigated if topical glycolysis inhibition restores mitochondrial antiviral signaling (MAVS)-associated innate antiviral signaling and improves HSK outcomes. Methods: In vitro and in vivo infection models were established using the HSV-1 McKrae strain. A stable hexokinase 2 (HK2)-knockdown human corneal epithelial cell (HCEC) line was generated using lentivirus. Protein/mRNA levels were analyzed via western blot (WB), immunofluorescence (IF), enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Protein interactions were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Murine corneal pathology and viral proteins were assessed by slit-lamp imaging, IF, and WB. Results: Elevated HK2 expression was detected in HSK models. HK2 knockdown or 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG)-mediated inhibition reduced HSV-1 replication (lower infected cell protein 0 [ICP0], higher interferon-stimulated gene 56 [ISG56]). Co-IP confirmed the interaction between HK2 and MAVS protein, and HK2 inhibition activated the TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) pathway. Topical application of 2-DG improved murine corneal epithelial integrity, reduced viral proteins (glycoprotein D, ICP0), and showed efficacy comparable to acyclovir. Conclusions: Topical glycolysis inhibition enhances corneal antiviral defenses via MAVS-mediated type I IFN signaling, controlling HSV-1 and alleviating disease. It reveals a novel corneal metabolism-antiviral immunity link, highlights HK2 as a therapeutic target for HSK, and supports metabolic therapies for HSK and ocular herpes virus infections.

Indexed as

Adaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingGlycolysisKeratitis, HerpeticAnimalsAntiviral AgentsBlotting, WesternDisease Models, AnimalEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent AssayEpithelium, CornealFemaleHerpesvirus 1, HumanHexokinaseHumansMiceMice, Inbred C57BLReal-Time Polymerase Chain ReactionAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAntiviral AgentsHexokinaseMAVS protein, humanMAVS protein, mouse

Identifiers

PMID42530913
PMCPMC13436576

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.