{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Gong J"],"funding":["National College Students&apos; Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program","National College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program","Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Projects","National Natural Science Foundation of China","Science and Technology Projects in Guangzhou","President Foundation of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University"],"pagination":["136"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12123736"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["13(1)"],"pubmed_abstract":["<h4>Background</h4>Sepsis, a critical organ dysfunction resulting from an aberrant host response to infection, remains a leading cause of mortality in ICU patients. Recent evidence suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) contributes to intestinal barrier function, the mechanism of which is yet to be explored. Additionally, alterations in intestinal microbiota and microbial metabolites could affect gut homeostasis, thus playing a potential role in modulating sepsis progression.<h4>Results</h4>ACE2 shedding weakens the integrity of the intestinal barrier in sepsis. Mice deficient in ACE2 exhibited increased intestinal permeability and higher mortality rates post-operation compared to their wild-type counterparts. Notably, ACE2 deficiency was associated with distinct alterations in gut microbiota composition and reductions in protective metabolites, such as 5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP). Supplementing septic mice with 5-MTP ameliorated gut leak through enhanced epithelial cell proliferation and repair. The PI3K-AKT-WEE1 signaling pathway was identified as a key mediator of the beneficial effects of 5-MTP administration.<h4>Conclusion</h4>ACE2 plays a protective role in maintaining intestinal barrier function during sepsis, potentially through modulation of the gut microbiota and the production of key metabolite 5-MTP. Our study enriched the mechanisms by which ACE2 regulates gut homeostasis and shed light on further applications. Video Abstract."],"journal":["Microbiome"],"pubmed_title":["ACE2 shedding exacerbates sepsis-induced gut leak via loss of microbial metabolite 5-methoxytryptophan."],"pmcid":["PMC12123736"],"funding_grant_id":["202312121006","82170641 and 81873583","2021A1515012595","202201020206","2023A041"],"pubmed_authors":["Xu Q","Cui W","Ma Y","Quan L","Meng Y","Lou A","Liu X","Li X","Li Y","Qu P","Lu H","Chen Z","Gong J","Song W"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"ACE2 shedding exacerbates sepsis-induced gut leak via loss of microbial metabolite 5-methoxytryptophan.","description":"<h4>Background</h4>Sepsis, a critical organ dysfunction resulting from an aberrant host response to infection, remains a leading cause of mortality in ICU patients. Recent evidence suggests that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) contributes to intestinal barrier function, the mechanism of which is yet to be explored. Additionally, alterations in intestinal microbiota and microbial metabolites could affect gut homeostasis, thus playing a potential role in modulating sepsis progression.<h4>Results</h4>ACE2 shedding weakens the integrity of the intestinal barrier in sepsis. Mice deficient in ACE2 exhibited increased intestinal permeability and higher mortality rates post-operation compared to their wild-type counterparts. Notably, ACE2 deficiency was associated with distinct alterations in gut microbiota composition and reductions in protective metabolites, such as 5-methoxytryptophan (5-MTP). Supplementing septic mice with 5-MTP ameliorated gut leak through enhanced epithelial cell proliferation and repair. The PI3K-AKT-WEE1 signaling pathway was identified as a key mediator of the beneficial effects of 5-MTP administration.<h4>Conclusion</h4>ACE2 plays a protective role in maintaining intestinal barrier function during sepsis, potentially through modulation of the gut microbiota and the production of key metabolite 5-MTP. Our study enriched the mechanisms by which ACE2 regulates gut homeostasis and shed light on further applications. Video Abstract.","dates":{"release":"2025-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2025 May","modification":"2026-05-29T03:15:30.263Z","creation":"2026-05-29T03:06:14.66Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC12123736","cross_references":{"pubmed":["40442816"],"doi":["10.1186/s40168-025-02128-4"]}}