Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Glycosaminoglycan-functionalized hydrogels for sustained delivery of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 mediating matrix metalloprotease inhibition and extracellular matrix stabilization

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.010

Figure Lengend Snippet: Biocompatibility of hydrogels. (A-C) Hydrogels were incubated in the respective cell culture media for 72 h, and the obtained extracts were used to assess their effects on the metabolic activity of huMECs (A), vSMCs (B), and NHDFs (C) after 48 h of culture. (D, E) Hydrogel extracts were added to primary human monocytes obtained from five independent donors. The differentiation efficiency of these immune cells into M1 (D) or M2 (E) macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry using specific markers. (F) Anti-factor Xa activity of HA c and sHA c was determined in comparison with Hep using a chromogenic assay. (A-F) One-way ANOVA: ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001. (G) In-vivo assessment of GelMA and GelMA/sHA c hydrogels loaded with TIMP-3. Experimental overview: TIMP-3-loaded GelMA and GelMA/sHA c hydrogels were implanted subcutaneously into BALB/c mice for 14 days. (H) Representative histological images of explanted gels stained for MPO (neutrophils), CD68 (macrophages), CD31 (microvessels), and Sirius red (collagen deposition). The granulation tissue between the muscle tissue and the implant is highlighted by dotted yellow lines. (I-L) Quantification of MPO + and CD68 + cells, CD31 + events, and Sirius red intensity (three ROIs per sample). Statistical analysis was performed using an unpaired t -test with Welch's correction: ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01.

Article Snippet: To investigate the in-vivo function of the gels, GelMA + TIMP-3 und GelMA/sHA c + TIMP3 gels were subcutaneously transplanted into the flanks of eight 14-week-old BALB/c mice (Janvier Labs, Le Genest-St-Isle, France).

Techniques: Incubation, Cell Culture, Activity Assay, Flow Cytometry, Comparison, Chromogenic Assay, In Vivo, Staining

Journal: International Journal of Molecular Medicine

Article Title: IL-17A + γδT cell activation via the HMGB1-TLR2/4-NF-κB signaling pathways in biliary atresia

doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2026.5852

Figure Lengend Snippet: IL-17A + γδT cells are increased and induce the inflammatory response in experimental BA. Experimental BA was induced in neonatal Balb/c mice through intraperitoneal injection of RRV; after RRV injection, (A) IL-17A levels in the liver homogenate supernatant of the murine BA model were dynamically measured through ELISA (n=5/group per time point), and (B) IL-17A + γδT cells were dynamically analyzed through flow cytometry on days 3, 7 and 14 (n=5/group per time point). (C) After knocking out the Tcrδ gene in Balb/c mice, the dynamic change in IL-17A content in the liver tissue of the Tcrδ −/− murine BA model was measured through ELISA (n=5/group per time point). (D) On day 7 of the Tcrδ −/− murine BA model, immunohistochemical staining with CK19 (upper panels, original magnification, ×100) was used to observe the morphology of intrahepatic bile ducts, and H&E staining (original magnification, ×100) was used to observe liver inflammation (middle panels) and extrahepatic bile duct morphology (lower panels) (n=5/group). (E) Incidence of BA and survival analysis in the Tcrδ −/− murine BA model (n=28 for Tcrδ −/− + RRV group, n=34 for WT + RRV group). (F-H) After adoptive transfusion of murine IL-17A + γδT cells into Tcrδ −/− mice, the aforementioned indicators were observed. (F) Dynamic changes in hepatic IL-17A levels were measured by ELISA (n=5/group per time point). (G) Liver inflammation, intrahepatic bile duct morphology and extrahepatic bile duct morphology were analyzed by immunohistochemical staining with CK19 (left panels, original magnification, ×100) and H&E staining (middle panels for liver inflammation and right panels for extrahepatic bile duct morphology, original magnification, ×100) (n=5/group). (H) Incidence of BA and survival analysis (n=32 for Tcrδ −/− + RRV + RPMI 1640 group, n=34 for Tcrδ −/− + RRV + IL-17A + γδT group). Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of at least three repeated experiments. *** P<0.001; ns, not significant. BA, biliary atresia; CK19, cytokeratin 19; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; MEM, minimum essential medium; RRV, rhesus rotavirus; WT, wild-type.

Article Snippet: The Tcrδ −/− , Tlr2 −/− and Tlr4 −/− Balb/c mice (n=2 male mice and 4 female mice per genotype; age, 8-10 weeks; weight, 20-25 g) were produced by Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc., using a proprietary CRISPR-Cas9 gene targeting platform.

Techniques: Injection, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Flow Cytometry, Immunohistochemical staining, Staining, Standard Deviation

Journal: Molecular Therapy Oncology

Article Title: Fibulin-4 expressed in metastatic breast cancer is a target of peptide-based imaging probes and experimental therapeutics

doi: 10.1016/j.omton.2026.201207

Figure Lengend Snippet: MMAE-BLMP6 suppresses metastasis progression (A) Kaplan-Meier curves showing cumulative survival of C57BL/6 mice i.v.-grafted with B16F10-luc cells and subcutaneously (sc)-injected with MMAE-BLMP6 or PBS as indicated. (B) Bioluminescence analysis of mice from (A) by IVIS revealing metastasis suppression in MMAE-BLMP6-treated mice (days 15 vs. 5). (C) Kaplan-Meier curves showing cumulative survival of Nude-Foxn1nu mice i.v.-grafted with MDA-MB-231-luc-GFP cells and sc-injected with MMAE-BLMP6 or PBS as indicated. (D) Bioluminescence analysis of mice from (D) by IVIS revealing metastasis suppression in MMAE-BLMP6-treated mice (days 21 vs. 12). (E) Mammary tumor growth in BALB/c mice bilaterally grafted with 4T1-luc cells and sc-injected with MMAE-BLMP6 ( N = 8) or scrambled MMAE-BLMP6 ( N = 7) as indicated in (G). Plotted are mean ± SEM; ∗ p < 0.01, Student t test. (F) Bioluminescence analysis of representative mice from (E) by IVIS at week 3 reveals smaller primary tumors (PT) and metastases (M) in mice treated with MMAE-BLMP6. (G) Kaplan-Meier curves showing survival of BALB/c mice orthotopically grafted with 4T1-luc cells and sc-injected with MMAE-BLMP6 or scrambled MMAE-BLMP6 as indicated. (H) Bioluminescence analysis of mice from (F and G) by IVIS revealing metastasis growth suppression in MMAE-BLMP6-treated mice (days 33 vs. 26). (I) Representative lungs from mice that died on the same day showing smaller metastases (arrowheads) in animals treated with MMAE-BLMP6.

Article Snippet: Spontaneous cancer progression to metastases was modeled by injecting 2 × 10 4 4T1 cells into the mammary fat pad of 10-weeks-old female Balb/c mice (Jackson Laboratory) with a 31-gauge needle.

Techniques: Injection