Journal: Stem Cell Reports

Article Title: The regenerative role of neural crest stem cells in physical stimuli-enhanced peripheral nerve repair

doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2026.102861

Figure Lengend Snippet: MES enhances peripheral nerve regeneration by recruiting NCSCs-like cells at the injury site (A–C) Representative 3D reconstructed PS-OCT images of sciatic nerves (A) without or (B) with MES in a rat sciatic transection model. The nerve conduit is indicated by translucent gray while the nerve is indicated by red-brown color. A normal sciatic nerve wrapped in the conduit was used as a (C) HC. After conduit transplantation onto the transected sciatic nerve, the injury site was subjected to MES using therapeutic shockwave (1,000 pulses per time, twice a week) for 12 weeks. The PS-OCT images and immunohistochemistry staining were conducted 12 weeks post-surgery. (D) Quantification of phase retardation of PS-OCT images at proximal and distal ends ( n = 3, mean ± SEM). (E–G) Representative immunohistochemical images showing the expression of neural crest markers SOX2, P75-NTR, and nerve regeneration factor NRG1 at the proximal/distal ends and the middle of the conduits bridging transected sciatic nerves under (E) static, (F) MES, or (G) HC conditions. (H) Representative zoomed in images of nuclear SOX2. (I–K) Quantification of histology staining intensities of (I) nuclear SOX2, (J) P75, and (K) NRG1. ∗ and ∗∗ denote statistical significance of p < 0.05 and p < 0.01. After conduit transplantation onto the transected sciatic nerve, the injury site was subjected to MES using therapeutic shockwave (1,000 pulses per time, twice a week) for 12 weeks. The PS-OCT images and immunohistochemistry staining were conducted 12 weeks post-surgery. Quantification data were collected from a total of 9 images from 3 rats for each condition.

Article Snippet: 1, a Schwann cell marker GALC after 2 weeks of culture under the control, BC, MES, and MES+BC conditions. (D) Quantification of axon length and GALC fluorescence intensity. n = 3 (biologically independent), mean ± SEM. (E) Confocal images and corresponding Imaris 3D reconstruction images of the cells after 4 weeks of culture under the control, BC, MES, and MES+BC conditions, the cells were fluorescently labeled by TUJ.

Techniques: Transplantation Assay, Immunohistochemistry, Staining, Immunohistochemical staining, Expressing

Journal: Stem Cell Reports

Article Title: The regenerative role of neural crest stem cells in physical stimuli-enhanced peripheral nerve repair

doi: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2026.102861

Figure Lengend Snippet: MES induces the multiphenotypic differentiation of NCSCs-like cells toward neurons and Schwann cells in vitro (A) Gene expression of neuronal markers NEUROD1 , MASH1 , NGN2 , and Schwann cell markers KROX20 , NCAM1 , PMP22 after 1 week of culture under the control (C), biochemical factor (BC), MES, and MES+BC conditions. n = 4 (biologically independent), mean ± SEM. (B) Confocal images showing the expression of neuronal markers (beta III tubulin [TUJ. 1] and NEUN) after 0, 1, and 2 weeks of culture under the control, BC, MES, and MES+BC conditions. (C) Confocal images showing the expression of a neuronal marker TUJ. 1, a Schwann cell marker GALC after 2 weeks of culture under the control, BC, MES, and MES+BC conditions. (D) Quantification of axon length and GALC fluorescence intensity. n = 3 (biologically independent), mean ± SEM. (E) Confocal images and corresponding Imaris 3D reconstruction images of the cells after 4 weeks of culture under the control, BC, MES, and MES+BC conditions, the cells were fluorescently labeled by TUJ. 1 and GALC. NCSC-like cells were subjected to acoustic actuator stimulation as MES, biochemical factor NRG1 stimulation as BC, or the combination of both as MES+BC. The cells were stimulated for 2 h daily for either 2 weeks or 4 weeks ∗ and ∗∗ denote statistical significance of p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively. ∗ and ∗∗ denote statistical significance p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively.

Article Snippet: 1, a Schwann cell marker GALC after 2 weeks of culture under the control, BC, MES, and MES+BC conditions. (D) Quantification of axon length and GALC fluorescence intensity. n = 3 (biologically independent), mean ± SEM. (E) Confocal images and corresponding Imaris 3D reconstruction images of the cells after 4 weeks of culture under the control, BC, MES, and MES+BC conditions, the cells were fluorescently labeled by TUJ.

Techniques: In Vitro, Gene Expression, Control, Expressing, Marker, Fluorescence, Labeling

Journal: JCI Insight

Article Title: CD9 regulates macrophage-mediated remodeling of adipose tissue in obesity

doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.193837

Figure Lengend Snippet: Analysis of epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) from control ( Cd9 fl/fl ) and CD9-MKO ( Cd9 fl/fl LysMCre +/– ) male mice fed an HFD for 12 weeks. ( A ) Representative images and quantification of immunofluorescence staining of F4/80 and DAPI in eWAT tissue sections. Data shown as relative MFI of F4/80 ( n = 6–8) and number of F4/80 + DAPI + cells per mm 2 ( n = 8). Scale bar: 200 μm. ( B ) Quantification by flow cytometry of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) from control and CD9-MKO HFD mice. Data are shown as frequency of total CD45 + immune cells ( n = 15–16) and cells per gram of tissue ( n = 13–16). ( C ) Representative high-resolution images of eWAT tissue sections from control and CD9-MKO HFD mice stained with DAPI (blue), PLIN1 (green), F4/80 (red), and CD9 (yellow) ( n = 8). Scale bar: 50 μm. (D ) F4/80 + crown-like structures (CLSs) per mm 2 quantified from images from samples shown in A ( n = 6–8). ( E ) 3D image reconstruction of PLIN1 (green), F4/80 (red), and CD9 (yellow) from control HFD mice ( n = 8). Scale bar: 50 μm (left) or 20 μm (right). ( F ) Representative images of adipocyte fraction isolated from control HFD mice eWAT and stained for Hoechst (blue), BODIPY (green), F4/80 (red), and CD9 (yellow) ( n = 3). Scale bar: 50 μm. ( G and H ) Relative expression of Adgre1 (F4/80), Cd68 , Cd9 , Trem2 , and Spp1 (OPN) in stromal vascular fraction ( n = 6–9; G ) and adipocyte fraction ( n = 6–9; H ) isolated from eWAT. Data are from 2 ( A , B , D , and E ) or 3 ( C , and F – H ) independent pooled experiments. Data presented as mean ± SEM ( A – C , G , and H ). qPCR shown as ΔCt relative to a normalization factor relative to control HFD samples. Unpaired 2-tailed Student’s t test ( A – C , G , and H ). ns, not significant; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001.

Article Snippet: All fluorescent staining (blue, green, red, and far-red channels) were acquired using HyD detectors in the standard mode with 100% gain, and 3D image reconstruction was performed with Imaris software (v8.1.2, Oxford Instruments).

Techniques: Control, Immunofluorescence, Staining, Flow Cytometry, Isolation, Expressing