Journal: Cell Death & Disease

Article Title: CARMN loss promotes VSMC-derived foam cell formation and atherosclerosis through transcriptional downregulation of autophagy

doi: 10.1038/s41419-025-08157-z

Figure Lengend Snippet: A The heatmap illustrates the expression levels of the top 10 downregulated lncRNAs in the atherosclerosis group compared to the normal group. B qRT-PCR analysis of CARMN in aortic tissues extracted from normal control mice and atherosclerotic mice ( n = 6). C Schematic representation of the atherosclerosis model and grouping. ApoE −/− mice at 8 weeks of age were fed a HFD for 12 weeks (8 weeks of induction followed by 4 weeks of maintenance), and tail vein was injected with ASO-CARMN (10 nmol per mouse) or ASO-NC (10 nmol per mouse) twice weekly during the last 4 weeks. The mice were then euthanized for collection of aortic tissue and follow-up examinations ( n = 6). D The knockdown efficiency of CARMN was determined by qRT-PCR analysis of RNA extracted from the aortic tissues of mice in ASO-NC and ASO-CARMN groups ( n = 3). E The plaques (red arrows) in the aortic arch of ApoE −/− mice under a stereoscopic microscope ( n = 6). Scale bars, 100 µm. F En face ORO staining of the aortic arch regions in ASO-NC and ASO-CARMN groups ( n = 6). Scale bars, 1 mm. G Quantification of the percentage of en face ORO-positive area/aortic arch area ( n = 6). H Representative images of aortic root sections stained with HE and Masson staining, respectively. Scale bars, 200 µm. I Quantitative data of the atherosclerotic plaque area in the aortic roots ( n = 6). J , K Quantification of necrotic core area and collagen-containing area as a percentage of the total plaque area ( n = 6). L Representative images of immunofluorescent staining showing BODIPY-ACTA2 colocalization in aortic root sections from ASO-NC and ASO-CARMN groups. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 20 µm. M , N The percentages of BODIPY-positive area and BODIPY-ACTA2 colocalization in the plaque area ( n = 3). Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-tailed Student’s t-test for two-group comparisons. ns, P > 0.05; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ****, P < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: For immunofluorescence staining, frozen sections were incubated with antibodies against LC3 (Proteintech, 14600-1-AP), p62 (Proteintech, 18420-1-AP), or ACTA2 (Proteintech, 67735-1-Ig).

Techniques: Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, Control, Injection, Knockdown, Microscopy, Staining, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Cell Death & Disease

Article Title: CARMN loss promotes VSMC-derived foam cell formation and atherosclerosis through transcriptional downregulation of autophagy

doi: 10.1038/s41419-025-08157-z

Figure Lengend Snippet: A Representative images of aortic root sections stained with antibodies against CSNK1A1, LC3, or p62. Scale bars, 200 µm. B– D The percentages of CSNK1A1, LC3, or p62 positive area in the aortic root lesion ( n = 6). E , F The percentages of ACTA2-LC3 colocalization and ACTA2-p62 colocalization in the plaque area ( n = 3). G Representative images of immunofluorescent staining showing ACTA2-LC3 colocalization and ACTA2-p62 colocalization in aortic root sections from ASO-NC and ASO-CARMN groups. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 20 µm. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-tailed Student’s t-test for two-group comparisons. **, P < 0.01.

Article Snippet: For immunofluorescence staining, frozen sections were incubated with antibodies against LC3 (Proteintech, 14600-1-AP), p62 (Proteintech, 18420-1-AP), or ACTA2 (Proteintech, 67735-1-Ig).

Techniques: Staining, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: A sandwich-like nanofibrous scaffold with macrophage phenotype transformation and myogenic differentiation for skeletal muscle regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2025.05.008

Figure Lengend Snippet: The regulation of fibrous scaffolds on skeletal muscle regeneration was evaluated by TA muscle injury model. A) Photos of TA muscle injury model and methods of postoperative detection. B) Representative ultrasound images (longitudinal section) collected two and four weeks after surgery. The red arrow indicates the defect area. C) Semi-quantification of side-sectional ultrasonic signal in defect area (n = 5; ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001). D) Representative H&E staining images of the scaffold implantation after two and four weeks. The right panels are the magnified images of the dashed box in the left panel. Black arrows indicate mature blood vessels and the red arrows indicate multinucleated foreign body giant cells. The capital M indicates scaffolds. E) Semi-quantified the degree of repair of the injured muscle according to H&E results (n = 3; ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001). F) Representative Masson staining images of the scaffold implantation after two and four weeks. G) Quantification of the number of newly formed myofibers (n = 3; ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001). H) Quantified the number of newly formed myofibers in different diameter. I) Representative fluorescence images of blood vessels marked by CD31 (red) and ACTA2 (green) after two and four weeks of implantation. J) Quantified the vascular density according to the positive expression of CD31and ACTA2 (n = 3; ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001).

Article Snippet: Anti-ACTA2 antibody (orb195993) was purchased from Biorbyt (UK).

Techniques: Staining, Fluorescence, Expressing