Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: From disease model to therapeutic insight: An engineered hydrogel reveals the role of matrix viscous dissipation in intervertebral disc degeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.021

Figure Lengend Snippet: ITGB1/FAK/YAP mechanotransduction axis mediates the regulation of ECM viscous dissipation on YAP. a, GSEA revealed that “Reactome integrin signaling”, “Gobo focal adhesion assembly”, “Gobo regulation of cytoskeleton” and “Kegg regulation of actin cytoskeleton” were upregulated in the NPCs cultured on V-gel compared with the NPCs cultured on E-gel. b, Heatmap of the series of DEGs related to mechanotransduction. c, Representative IF images of ITGB1 and YAP in NPCs with corresponding quantitative analysis, Scale bars = 50 μm d, Representative immunofluorescence images of p-FAK, Vinculin, YAP, and F-actin with quantitative analysis of cell areas, p-FAK expression and the ratio of nuclear YAP. Relative cell areas and nuclear YAP ratios were quantified across 50 cells from three independent biological replicates (n = 50). Relative fluorescent intensity of p-FAK was quantified from three independent biological replicates (n = 3). e, Western blotting analysis of YAP and p-YAP. All data are presented as means ± SD. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple-comparisons test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The symbol “∗” represents a statistical difference.

Article Snippet: During this period, in accordance with a previous study, 10 μL of FAK agonist (ZINC40099027, 10 μM, MCE, HY-134570) or YAP agonist (PY-60, 10 μM, MCE, HY-141644) were injected into the compressed IVDs every other day using a 31G needle.

Techniques: Cell Culture, Immunofluorescence, Expressing, Western Blot

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: From disease model to therapeutic insight: An engineered hydrogel reveals the role of matrix viscous dissipation in intervertebral disc degeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.021

Figure Lengend Snippet: Pharmacological activating of YAP alleviates NPCs senescence and IVDD progression. a, Schematic illustration of the in vivo experiments design. Rats received a FAK agonist or a YAP agonist every other day to indirectly or directly activate YAP. b, Images of rats IVDD model c, Representative MRI and X-ray images of the IVDs after injection of FAK agonist and YAP agonist with the corresponding quantitative analysis (n = 5). d, Representative H&E and S. O. staining of IVDs. Scale bars = 1 mm. e, Representative IF images of ACAN and COL II. Scale bars = 100 μm. f, Representative IF images of p16INK4a and YAP. g, Representative IHC images of cGAS with the corresponding quantitative analysis. Scale bars = 100 μm (n = 5). All data are presented as means ± SD. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple-comparisons test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The symbol “∗” represents a statistical difference compared to the control group, and the symbol “#” represents a statistical difference compared to the compression group.

Article Snippet: During this period, in accordance with a previous study, 10 μL of FAK agonist (ZINC40099027, 10 μM, MCE, HY-134570) or YAP agonist (PY-60, 10 μM, MCE, HY-141644) were injected into the compressed IVDs every other day using a 31G needle.

Techniques: In Vivo, Injection, Staining, Control

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: From disease model to therapeutic insight: An engineered hydrogel reveals the role of matrix viscous dissipation in intervertebral disc degeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.021

Figure Lengend Snippet: Viscous dissipation biomimetic hydrogel alleviates ECM remodeling and NPCs senescence during IVDD. a, Schematic diagram of the mechanical testing procedures. Axial tension-compression and stress-relaxation tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of IVDs at 12 weeks b, Representative force-displacement curves of all groups. c, Representative stress-relaxation curves of all groups. d, Quantitative analysis of compressive stiffness, tensile stiffness (n = 5). e, Quantitative analysis of normalized NZ and τ 1/2 (n = 5). h, Representative IF images of p16INK4a and YAP at 12 weeks. Scale bars = 50 μm and 20 μm, respectively. i, Representative IHC images of cGAS in NP tissues at 12 weeks. Scale bars = 100 μm (n = 5). The symbol “∗” represents a statistical difference compared to the sham group, and the symbol “#” represents a statistical difference compared to the defect group.

Article Snippet: During this period, in accordance with a previous study, 10 μL of FAK agonist (ZINC40099027, 10 μM, MCE, HY-134570) or YAP agonist (PY-60, 10 μM, MCE, HY-141644) were injected into the compressed IVDs every other day using a 31G needle.

Techniques:

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: From disease model to therapeutic insight: An engineered hydrogel reveals the role of matrix viscous dissipation in intervertebral disc degeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.021

Figure Lengend Snippet: ITGB1/FAK/YAP mechanotransduction axis mediates the regulation of ECM viscous dissipation on YAP. a, GSEA revealed that “Reactome integrin signaling”, “Gobo focal adhesion assembly”, “Gobo regulation of cytoskeleton” and “Kegg regulation of actin cytoskeleton” were upregulated in the NPCs cultured on V-gel compared with the NPCs cultured on E-gel. b, Heatmap of the series of DEGs related to mechanotransduction. c, Representative IF images of ITGB1 and YAP in NPCs with corresponding quantitative analysis, Scale bars = 50 μm d, Representative immunofluorescence images of p-FAK, Vinculin, YAP, and F-actin with quantitative analysis of cell areas, p-FAK expression and the ratio of nuclear YAP. Relative cell areas and nuclear YAP ratios were quantified across 50 cells from three independent biological replicates (n = 50). Relative fluorescent intensity of p-FAK was quantified from three independent biological replicates (n = 3). e, Western blotting analysis of YAP and p-YAP. All data are presented as means ± SD. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple-comparisons test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The symbol “∗” represents a statistical difference.

Article Snippet: During this period, in accordance with a previous study, 10 μL of FAK agonist (ZINC40099027, 10 μM, MCE, HY-134570) or YAP agonist (PY-60, 10 μM, MCE, HY-141644) were injected into the compressed IVDs every other day using a 31G needle.

Techniques: Cell Culture, Immunofluorescence, Expressing, Western Blot

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: From disease model to therapeutic insight: An engineered hydrogel reveals the role of matrix viscous dissipation in intervertebral disc degeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.021

Figure Lengend Snippet: Pharmacological activating of YAP alleviates NPCs senescence and IVDD progression. a, Schematic illustration of the in vivo experiments design. Rats received a FAK agonist or a YAP agonist every other day to indirectly or directly activate YAP. b, Images of rats IVDD model c, Representative MRI and X-ray images of the IVDs after injection of FAK agonist and YAP agonist with the corresponding quantitative analysis (n = 5). d, Representative H&E and S. O. staining of IVDs. Scale bars = 1 mm. e, Representative IF images of ACAN and COL II. Scale bars = 100 μm. f, Representative IF images of p16INK4a and YAP. g, Representative IHC images of cGAS with the corresponding quantitative analysis. Scale bars = 100 μm (n = 5). All data are presented as means ± SD. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's multiple-comparisons test. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The symbol “∗” represents a statistical difference compared to the control group, and the symbol “#” represents a statistical difference compared to the compression group.

Article Snippet: During this period, in accordance with a previous study, 10 μL of FAK agonist (ZINC40099027, 10 μM, MCE, HY-134570) or YAP agonist (PY-60, 10 μM, MCE, HY-141644) were injected into the compressed IVDs every other day using a 31G needle.

Techniques: In Vivo, Injection, Staining, Control