Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Screening of a quinonoid compounds library identifies decylubiquinone as an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic agent against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis via CD39/CD73/adenosine axis

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.062

Figure Lengend Snippet: Roles of A 2b R in ADO-mediated activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in primary BMSCs. ( A ) Principal component analysis (PCA) of RNA-seq data from primary BMSCs treated with Dex or Dex + ADO. ( B ) The volcano plot presented the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) as determined by RNA-Seq in primary BMSCs treated with Dex or Dex + ADO. ( C ) Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis in the biological process category for DEGs as determined by RNA-Seq in primary BMSCs treated with Dex, or Dex + ADO. ( D ) The molecular docking of ADO with mus musculus A 1 R, A 2a R, A 2b R, and A 3 R proteins. ADO is displayed in Cyan. The surrounding residues in the binding pocket are shown in green (forming a non-hydrogen bond with ADO) or magenta (forming a hydrogen bond with ADO). The hydrogen bond is labeled as yellow dashed lines. The backbone of the receptor is depicted as gray. ( E ) RT-qPCR analysis of the mRNA levels of Adora1 , Adora2a , Adora2b , and Adora3 in primary BMSCs treated with vehicle, Dex, or Dex + ADO. ( F ) RT-qPCR analysis for the expression of Runx2 in primary BMSCs of different groups. (G) Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) plot showing the differentially expressed pathway (cAMP) between the Dex group and the Dex + ADO group as indicated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. ( H ) Western blot validation for the knockdown deficiency of A 2b R after transfection with si Adora2b . ( I ) ELISA analysis for the relative intracellular cAMP levels in BMSCs of different groups. ( J ) Western blot and quantification for the expression of PKA, p-PKA, CREB, and p-CREB in primary BMSCs. ( K ) Representative images and quantitative analysis of Alizarin Red S staining for mineralization deposit in primary BMSCs of different groups under osteogenic conditions. n = 4 independent repeats by using different biological samples in each group for in vitro experiments. Data were means ± s.e.m. ns p > 0.05, ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001 by one-way ANOVA. Scale bar: 200 μm (K).

Article Snippet: The intracellular cAMP level was examined by using a cAMP ELISA Kit (E-EL-0056, Elabscience, Wuhan, China) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Techniques: Activation Assay, RNA Sequencing, Binding Assay, Labeling, Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Western Blot, Biomarker Discovery, Knockdown, Transfection, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Staining, In Vitro

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Screening of a quinonoid compounds library identifies decylubiquinone as an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic agent against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis via CD39/CD73/adenosine axis

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.062

Figure Lengend Snippet: Screening of the quinonoid compounds for the treatment of GIOP. (A) Flowchart depicting the screening process of the quinonoid compounds library. The schematic diagram was created by using BioRender.com. (B) Volcano diagram showing the effects of the 153 quinonoid compounds on Runx2 expression in BMSCs. Red and blue dots indicate the specific compounds that up- and down-regulate Runx2 expression in BMSCs, respectively. (C) Heat map showing the effect of the compounds on ALP activity in primary BMSCs. Color from blue to red indicates the ALP activity in primary BMSCs from low to high. (D) Measurement of intracellular ROS level in primary BMSCs treated with three potential compounds by using the fluorescent dye DCFDA. (E) Chemical structure of DUB, the final candidate among the screened drugs. (F) MTT assay for the proliferation of BMSCs treated with different doses of DUB for 2 and 10 days, under osteogenic induction conditions with or without 10 μM Dex. (G) Representative images and quantitative analysis of mineralized nodule formation via Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining in primary BMSCs treated with DUB at a series of concentrations, under osteogenic induction conditions with or without 10 μM Dex. (H) Western blot and quantification for the expression of osteogenesis-related proteins in primary BMSCs under different treatments. (I) Oil Red O staining and quantifications for lipid droplets in primary BMSCs of different groups. n = 4 independent repeats by using different biological samples in each group for in vitro experiments. Data were means ± s.e.m. ∗∗∗ p < 0.001 by one-way ANOVA. Scale bars: 200 μm (G), and 50 μm (I).

Article Snippet: The intracellular cAMP level was examined by using a cAMP ELISA Kit (E-EL-0056, Elabscience, Wuhan, China) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Techniques: Expressing, Activity Assay, MTT Assay, Staining, Western Blot, In Vitro

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Screening of a quinonoid compounds library identifies decylubiquinone as an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic agent against glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis via CD39/CD73/adenosine axis

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.062

Figure Lengend Snippet: Roles of A 2b R in ADO-mediated activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in primary BMSCs. ( A ) Principal component analysis (PCA) of RNA-seq data from primary BMSCs treated with Dex or Dex + ADO. ( B ) The volcano plot presented the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) as determined by RNA-Seq in primary BMSCs treated with Dex or Dex + ADO. ( C ) Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis in the biological process category for DEGs as determined by RNA-Seq in primary BMSCs treated with Dex, or Dex + ADO. ( D ) The molecular docking of ADO with mus musculus A 1 R, A 2a R, A 2b R, and A 3 R proteins. ADO is displayed in Cyan. The surrounding residues in the binding pocket are shown in green (forming a non-hydrogen bond with ADO) or magenta (forming a hydrogen bond with ADO). The hydrogen bond is labeled as yellow dashed lines. The backbone of the receptor is depicted as gray. ( E ) RT-qPCR analysis of the mRNA levels of Adora1 , Adora2a , Adora2b , and Adora3 in primary BMSCs treated with vehicle, Dex, or Dex + ADO. ( F ) RT-qPCR analysis for the expression of Runx2 in primary BMSCs of different groups. (G) Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) plot showing the differentially expressed pathway (cAMP) between the Dex group and the Dex + ADO group as indicated by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. ( H ) Western blot validation for the knockdown deficiency of A 2b R after transfection with si Adora2b . ( I ) ELISA analysis for the relative intracellular cAMP levels in BMSCs of different groups. ( J ) Western blot and quantification for the expression of PKA, p-PKA, CREB, and p-CREB in primary BMSCs. ( K ) Representative images and quantitative analysis of Alizarin Red S staining for mineralization deposit in primary BMSCs of different groups under osteogenic conditions. n = 4 independent repeats by using different biological samples in each group for in vitro experiments. Data were means ± s.e.m. ns p > 0.05, ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001 by one-way ANOVA. Scale bar: 200 μm (K).

Article Snippet: The intracellular cAMP level was examined by using a cAMP ELISA Kit (E-EL-0056, Elabscience, Wuhan, China) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Techniques: Activation Assay, RNA Sequencing, Binding Assay, Labeling, Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Western Blot, Biomarker Discovery, Knockdown, Transfection, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Staining, In Vitro

Journal: Neural Regeneration Research

Article Title: Trans-spinal magnetic stimulation upregulates microglial SOCS3 to attenuate neuroinflammation in chronic constriction injury–induced neuropathic pain

doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00912

Figure Lengend Snippet: rMS-induced upregulation of SOCS3 in microglia is CaMKKβ/AMPK-dependent in vitro . (A) A schematic diagram of the in vitro study. (B) Western blotting data indicating that the p-CaMKKβ protein level in BV-2 cells increased at 5 minutes after a single administration of rMS and was highest at 15 minutes post-rMS ( n = 4). (C) Western blotting data showing that the p-AMPK protein level in BV-2 cells increased significantly at 30 minutes after rMS ( n = 4). (D, E) Representative western blotting results show that STO-609 and compound C alleviated rMS-induced activation of AMPK in vitro ( n = 4). (F–H) Representative western blotting data showing that compound C abrogated rMS-induced upregulation of SOCS3 and inhibition of p38 and STAT3 in vitro ( n = 4). (I) Representative immunofluorescence images showing that rMS inhibited the translocation of NF-κB p65 (green, Alexa Fluor 488) from the cytosol to the nucleus after LPS treatment in vitro , where this effect was reversed by administration of compound C (20 μmol/mL) 0.5 hours before LPS pretreatment ( n = 3). Arrows indicate BV-2 cells. Scale bars: 10 μm. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. # P < 0.05, ## P < 0.01, vs . Control group; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, **** P < 0.001, vs . LPS group; † P < 0.05, †† P < 0.01, vs. LPS + rMS group (one‐way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons tests). AMPK: Adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase; CaMKKβ: calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase beta; Compound C: an AMPK inhibitor; DAPI: 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; NF-κB: nuclear factor kappa-B; p-AMPK: phosphorylated AMPK(Thr172); p-CaMKKβ: phospho-CaMKKβ(Ser511); rMS: repetitive magnetic stimulation; SOCS3: suppressor of cytokine signaling 3; STAT3: transducer and activator of transcription 3; STO-609: a CaMKKβ inhibitor.

Article Snippet: Intrathecal injections of compound C, an adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor (10 μg/10 μL; MedChemExpress, Newark, NJ, USA, Cat# HY-13418A), and SOCS3 siRNA (500 pmol/10 μL; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA, Cat# SC-270156) were performed as described previously by Mestre et al. (1994).

Techniques: In Vitro, Western Blot, Activation Assay, Inhibition, Immunofluorescence, Translocation Assay, Control

Journal: Neural Regeneration Research

Article Title: Trans-spinal magnetic stimulation upregulates microglial SOCS3 to attenuate neuroinflammation in chronic constriction injury–induced neuropathic pain

doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00912

Figure Lengend Snippet: The pain-relieving effect and upregulation of SOCS3 induced by focal rTSMS depended on the activation of AMPK. (A) Timeline diagram of CCI modeling, rTSMS treatment, mechanical withdrawal threshold assessment, and experimental analysis in rats. (B) Western blotting data illustrates that the p-AMPK protein level decreased in CCI model rats and increased in CCI + rTSMS + Vehicle rats ( n = 5). (C, D) Intrathecal injection of compound C largely prevented the pain-relieving effects of focal rTMS, when applied once or repeatedly, in rats with CCI neuropathic pain ( n = 8). (E–H) Representative western blotting results showing that compound C alleviated the rTSMS-induced activation of AMPK, increase in SOCS3, and downregulation of p38 and STAT3 ( n = 5). (I, J) Representative immunofluorescence images showing that compound C abrogated the rTSMS-induced upregulation of SOCS3 (green, Alexa Fluor 488) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord ( n = 3). Dashed box indicates the region of interest in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. Scale bars: 100 μm. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. # P < 0.05, ## P < 0.01, ### P < 0.001, vs. Sham + Vehicle group; * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, **** P < 0.0001, vs . CCI + Vehicle group; † P < 0.05, †† P < 0.01, ††† P < 0.001, †††† P < 0.0001, vs . CCI + rTSMS + Compound C group (C, D: two‐way analysis of variance; B, E–H, J: one‐way analysis of variance followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons tests). AMPK: Adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase; CCI: chronic constrictive injury; DAPI: 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; Iba-1: ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1; p-AMPK: phosphorylated AMPK(Thr172); p-p38: phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase; p-STAT3: phospho-STAT3; rTSMS: repetitive trans-spinal magnetic stimulation; SOCS3: suppressor of cytokine signaling 3; STAT3: transducer and activator of transcription 3.

Article Snippet: Intrathecal injections of compound C, an adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor (10 μg/10 μL; MedChemExpress, Newark, NJ, USA, Cat# HY-13418A), and SOCS3 siRNA (500 pmol/10 μL; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA, Cat# SC-270156) were performed as described previously by Mestre et al. (1994).

Techniques: Activation Assay, Western Blot, Injection, Immunofluorescence, Binding Assay