Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42550351›Full record

ReviewMolecular biology reports2026

The microbiome-mitochondria axis: the context-dependent role of urolithin A in aging and cancer via mitophagy.

Jiayuan Wu, Xinxin Ye, Wei Hua, Yuyang Yao, Lu Sun, Hongyu Ma, Congcong Yu, Yanling Cheng, Shengquan Mi

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Molecular biology reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

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.

Jiayuan WuCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Xinxin YeCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Wei HuaCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Yuyang YaoBeijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, 100048, China.
Lu SunCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Hongyu MaCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Congcong YuCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Yanling ChengCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.
Shengquan MiCollege of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, No.18, Fatou Xili 3 Qu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China. msq65@buu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Urolithin A (UA) is a gut microbiota-derived metabolite formed from dietary ellagitannins and ellagic acid. It has drawn sustained interest because it can influence mitochondrial quality control, but the evidence does not support a simple anti-aging or anticancer label. In this review, UA is examined across microbial metabolism, urolithin metabotypes, pharmacokinetic exposure, mitophagy biology, aging-related phenotypes, and cancer. The emphasis is placed on what has been shown, what remains model-dependent, and where translational claims are still premature. Preclinical work links UA to PINK1/Parkin-, TFEB-, AMPK-, sirtuin-, and Nrf2-associated pathways, with reported improvements in mitochondrial turnover and inflammatory signaling. Human data are narrower: most trials have been short and have focused on safety, muscle performance, mitochondrial signatures, and circulating biomarkers. Evidence for cancer prevention or cancer therapy still comes mainly from cell and animal studies. Because mitophagy can limit early mitochondrial damage but may also help established tumors survive hypoxia, nutrient restriction, dormancy, and therapy-induced stress, UA is better regarded as a microbiome-dependent mitochondrial modulator whose effects depend on biological setting. The next step is to define direct molecular targets, test native and conjugated UA at human-relevant exposure ranges, account for UM-A, UM-B, and UM-0 metabotypes, and evaluate cancer-specific endpoints before making therapeutic claims.

Indexed as

AgingCoumarinsGastrointestinal MicrobiomeMitochondriaMitophagyNeoplasmsAnimalsHumansMicrobiotaSignal Transduction3,8-dihydroxy-6H-dibenzo(b,d)pyran-6-oneCoumarinsAgingCancerGut microbiotaMitophagyUrolithin AUrolithin metabotype

Identifiers

PMID42550351

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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.