Journal: Non-coding RNA Research

Article Title: CircSMAD4 shapes matrix-remodeling TAMs in lung adenocarcinoma

doi: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2026.03.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: circSMAD4 drives tumor-educated M2-like polarization of macrophages and promotes tumor-cell aggressiveness. (A) Workflow for generating TC-hMDMs and TC-BMDMs, circSMAD4 knockdown, and downstream functional assays. (B) RT–qPCR analysis of M1-associated markers (MHC-II [HLA-DRA in TC-hMDMs; H2-Ab1 in TC-BMDMs], NOS2, and CD86) and M2-associated markers (CD163, CD206, and ARG1) in TC-hMDMs and TC-BMDMs. (C) Representative flow-cytometry histograms for HLA-DR, iNOS, CD86, CD163, CD206, and ARG1 in TC-hMDMs. Gating strategy and marker thresholds were defined based on FMO controls (see ). (D) Flow-cytometry quantification of marker-positive cells in TC-hMDMs and TC-BMDMs. (E) ELISA of IL-10, TGF-β, and iNOS in culture supernatants. (F) CCK-8 assays of A549 and LLC cells. (G) Colony-formation assays of A549 and LLC cells with quantification. (H) Bioluminescence-based growth readouts of patient-derived LUAD organoids (PDO #1 and PDO #2) after co-culture with TC-hMDMs. (I) Immunoblot analysis of EMT-related proteins (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin) in A549 and LLC cells. (J) Transwell migration and invasion assays of A549 and LLC cells with quantification. Scale bar, 50 μm. ∗P < 0.05; ∗∗P < 0.01; ∗∗∗P < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗P < 0.0001; ns, not significant.

Article Snippet: Sections were incubated with primary antibodies against Ki-67 (Servicebio, Cat# GB111499 ), E-cadherin (Proteintech, Cat# 20874-1-AP), and Vimentin (Proteintech, Cat# 10366-1-AP).

Techniques: Knockdown, Functional Assay, Quantitative RT-PCR, Flow Cytometry, Marker, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, CCK-8 Assay, Derivative Assay, Co-Culture Assay, Western Blot, Migration

Journal: Non-coding RNA Research

Article Title: CircSMAD4 shapes matrix-remodeling TAMs in lung adenocarcinoma

doi: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2026.03.003

Figure Lengend Snippet: circSMAD4 depletion in macrophages restrains LUAD growth and metastasis in vivo. (A) Schematic of orthotopic lung implantation and experimental metastasis models using LLC cells mixed with BMDMs expressing shNC or sh-circSMAD4. (B) Representative images of orthotopic lung tumors. (C) Tumor weight of orthotopic implants. (D) Overall survival of mice bearing orthotopic tumors. (E) Immunofluorescence showing F4/80 and circSMAD4 signals in tumor tissues. Scale bar, 50 μm. (F, G) Representative Ki-67 IHC staining and quantification in orthotopic tumors. Scale bar, 50 μm. (H) Representative bioluminescence images of lung tumor burden in the metastasis model. (I) Tumor weight in the metastasis model. (J) Overall survival of mice in the metastasis model. (K–M) Representative IHC staining and quantification of E-cadherin and vimentin in tumors. Scale bar, 50 μm. ∗P < 0.05; ∗∗P < 0.01; ∗∗∗P < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗P < 0.0001; ns, not significant.

Article Snippet: Sections were incubated with primary antibodies against Ki-67 (Servicebio, Cat# GB111499 ), E-cadherin (Proteintech, Cat# 20874-1-AP), and Vimentin (Proteintech, Cat# 10366-1-AP).

Techniques: In Vivo, Expressing, Immunofluorescence, Immunohistochemistry

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Immunomodulatory effects of biodegradable Mg–Cu–Zn alloy in esophageal cancer

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.046

Figure Lengend Snippet: Distribution of CD163 + M2 TAMs in AKR-derived allograft tumor tissues from immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice. (a, b) Representative IHC staining images showing CD163 + M2 TAMs in the (a) peritumoral stroma and (b) tumor islets. Lower panels display higher-magnification views of the regions outlined by red dashed boxes. (c, d) Quantification of CD163 + cells in the (c) peritumoral stroma and (d) tumor islets. (e) Comparison of CD163 + cell density between the peritumoral stroma and tumor islets. (f) Total number of CD163 + cells in allograft tumors (peritumoral stroma and tumor islets combined). (g, h) Comparison of the density between iNOS + cells and CD163 + cells in the (g) peritumoral stroma and (h) tumor islets. (i, j) Quantification of iNOS + /CD163 + ratio in the (i) peritumoral stroma and (j) tumor islets. p < 0.05 (∗), p < 0.01 (∗∗), p < 0.001 (∗∗∗). A field of view is ∼0.086 mm 2 in (c−j).

Article Snippet: Tissue sections were then incubated with primary antibodies against iNOS (22226-1-AP, ProteinTech, China), CD163 (A26411PM, Abclone, China), CD8 (SP16, Maixin, China), CD4 (SP35, Maixin, China) or Ki-67 (12202S, Cell Signaling Technology) for 12 h at 4 °C, followed by secondary antibodies (Beyotime Biotechnology, Nantong, China).

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Immunohistochemistry, Comparison

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Targeting VEGFR2 inhibition within a spatially-confined conduit promotes nerve self-resolution and alleviates mechanical allodynia

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.009

Figure Lengend Snippet: Efficacy of GelMA MAVP MPs in promoting nerve end interface self-resolution. ( A ) Schematic of the peripheral sciatic nerve ligation (p-SNL) model with four experimental groups (i.e., MAVP, VAN, vehicle, and control) ( B ) Immunofluorescence (IF) staining of p-VEGFR2 and YAP (indicating mechanotransduction signaling). ( C ) The positive area percentage of p-VEGFR2 (n = 6). ( D ) Percentage of YAP in nuclear/cytoplasm (n = 6). ( E ) IF staining of proliferation signal (Ki-67) and vessel signal (CD31) for p-SNL animal. ( F ) Quantification of Ki-67/CD31 co-localization area percentage (n = 6). ( G ) IF co-staining of Ki-67 and macrophage marker F4/80. ( H ) Quantification of Ki-67/F4/80 co-localization area percentage (n = 6). ( I ) IF staining of scar marker α-SMA. ( J ) Quantification of α-SMA-positive area percentage (n = 6). Mean values are shown and error bars represent ± s.d., as analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey-Kramer test in ( C , D , F , H and J ). Biological replicates were used for all experiments. ns, p > 0.05, ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: The following primary antibodies were used for the subsequent steps: anti-Yap (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-376830); anti-p-VEGFR2 (rabbit, 1:100 Invitrogen, PA5-105765); α-SMA (rabbit, 1:200, Proteintech 14395-1-AP); Reca-1 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-52665); anti-CD31 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-13537); anti-Ki67 (rabbit, 1:150, Cell Signaling 9129S); anti-NF-200 (mouse, 1:200, Sigma, SAB4200747); anti-MBP (rabbit, 1:200, Abcam ab218011); anti-F4/80 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-377009); Iba-1 (rabbit, 1:150, Abcam ab178846); anti-CGRP (rabbit, 1:400, Abcam ab283568); anti-TRPA1 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-376495); anti-CD86 (rabbit, 1:200, Proteintech 30691-1-AP); CD206 (rabbit, 1:200, Proteintech 18704-1-AP).

Techniques: Ligation, Control, Immunofluorescence, Staining, Marker

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Targeting VEGFR2 inhibition within a spatially-confined conduit promotes nerve self-resolution and alleviates mechanical allodynia

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.009

Figure Lengend Snippet: Expression of pain signal proteins in peripheral nerve locations. ( A ) Immunohistochemical (IHC) imaging of VEGFA and ( B ) quantification of VEGFA mean integrated density (n = 6). ( C ) IHC staining for NGF and ( D ) quantification of NGF mean integrated density (n = 6). ( E ) IF staining for macrophages (F4/80) and ( F ) quantification of macrophage number per 10 4 μm 2 (n = 6). ( G ) IF staining for scar tissue (α-SMA) and ( H ) quantification of α-SMA -positive area percentage (n = 6). ( I ) IF staining for myelin sheath (MBP) and axon (NF200) and ( J ) quantification of myelin sheath to axon area ratio (n = 6). ( K ) IF staining for pain-related mediators CGRP and TRPA1 and ( L ) quantification of CGRP (n = 6), and ( M ) TRPA1 (n = 6). Mean values are shown and error bars represent ± s.d., as analyzed by one-way ANOVA followed by the Tukey-Kramer test in ( B , D , F , H , J , L and M ). Biological replicates were used for all experiments. ns, p > 0.05, ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: The following primary antibodies were used for the subsequent steps: anti-Yap (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-376830); anti-p-VEGFR2 (rabbit, 1:100 Invitrogen, PA5-105765); α-SMA (rabbit, 1:200, Proteintech 14395-1-AP); Reca-1 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-52665); anti-CD31 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-13537); anti-Ki67 (rabbit, 1:150, Cell Signaling 9129S); anti-NF-200 (mouse, 1:200, Sigma, SAB4200747); anti-MBP (rabbit, 1:200, Abcam ab218011); anti-F4/80 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-377009); Iba-1 (rabbit, 1:150, Abcam ab178846); anti-CGRP (rabbit, 1:400, Abcam ab283568); anti-TRPA1 (mouse, 1:200, Santa sc-376495); anti-CD86 (rabbit, 1:200, Proteintech 30691-1-AP); CD206 (rabbit, 1:200, Proteintech 18704-1-AP).

Techniques: Expressing, Immunohistochemical staining, Imaging, Immunohistochemistry, Staining

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Near infrared enhanced palladium loaded siraitia grosvenorii carbon dots amplify mitophagy for acute lung injury immunotherapy

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.040

Figure Lengend Snippet: In vivo ALI therapy evaluation. A) Time schedule of in vivo animal experiment. B) Macroscopic observation in the lung tissue of treated rats. C) Wet/dry ratio in the lung tissue of treated rats. D) Inflammatory factors expression levels in the blood of treated rats. E) Inflammatory factors expression levels in the lung tissue of treated rats. F) ROS levels in the lung tissue of treated rats. (Scale bar = 50 μm) G) H&E staining images in the lung tissue of treated rats. (Scale bar = 100 μm) H) TNF-α expression levels in the lung tissue of treated rats, (Scale bar = 100 μm) and the corresponding quantified results (I). J) HSP70 expression levels in the lung tissue of treated rats, (Scale bar = 100 μm) and the corresponding quantified results (K). L) CD31 expression levels in the lung tissue of treated rats, (Scale bar = 100 μm) and the corresponding quantified results (M). The corresponding groups were: rats without treatments (sham group), and rats pretreated with LPS followed by IT administration of PBS (ALI group), CPs (CPs), CPs@SS31 (CPs@SS31) and CPs@SS31 combining with NIR irradiation (CPs@SS31+NIR). (”∗” symbol compared with sham group, ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001 and ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001).

Article Snippet: And then, the cells were incubated with primary antibodies (anti-IL-6, TNF-α, CD206, CD86, CD31, HSP70 and PINK1, 1 : 200, Proteintech, USA) overnight.

Techniques: In Vivo, Expressing, Staining, Irradiation