ArticlePLoS biology2026
Pathogen subversion of neuro-epidermal signaling impairs lysosomal function to disrupt collagen homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Article in PLoS biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
- Update of
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
The epidermis relies on collagen-rich extracellular matrices (ECMs) to maintain barrier integrity against pathogens. Lysosomes regulate cuticle collagen turnover, yet how neuronal signaling modulates epidermal lysosomal function and collagen organization during infection remains unclear. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14-Caenorhabditis elegans infection model, we demonstrate that pathogen-induced neuronal signaling disrupts epidermal lysosomal activity and collagen remodeling. PA14 infection triggers neurons to secrete NSIF-1 (Neuronal Secreted Immune Factor 1), which translocates to the epidermis and impairs lysosomal acidification, maturation, and degradation by suppressing the transcription factor ELT-3. This disruption leads to disorganized collagen structure, compromising cuticle integrity and host resistance. Genetic mutation of nsif-1 restores lysosomal function, enhances collagen density, and improves survival, while neuron-specific nsif-1 knockdown confirms its neuronal origin. Moreover, NSIF-1 inhibits ELT-3 nuclear localization, blocking its role in lysosomal-dependent ECM repair. Our study reveals a neuro-epidermal axis wherein pathogens exploit neuronal signals to disrupt lysosomal function and collagen homeostasis, identifying NSIF-1 and ELT-3 as potential targets to counteract infection-driven ECM dysregulation.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
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.