Journal: Journal of Sport and Health Science

Article Title: Long-term aerobic exercise enhances circulating exosomal miR-214-3p to promote endothelial progenitor cell-mediated repair of endothelial damage induced by obesity

doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101094

Figure Lengend Snippet: Eight weeks of aerobic exercise improved the proliferation and migration capabilities of circulating EPC in both humans and rats with obesity through circulating exosomes. (A) Representative transmission electron microscopy image of exosomes derived from human peripheral blood. Scale bar = 200 nm. (B) Exosome characterization and identification. Exosomes derived from human peripheral blood express TSG101 and CD63. (C) Nanoparticle tracking analysis confirms the presence of exosomes with a peak diameter of 100 nm, characteristic of exosomal size. Quantitative analysis of exosomes derived from human peripheral blood revealed no statistically significant difference in the number of exosomes isolated from equal volumes of circulating blood between the control group and the exercise group ( n = 30 for each group). (D) Cell proliferation assay results showed that exosomes derived from the exercise group significantly enhanced the proliferative capacity of human EPC compared to those from the control group, as measured by the CCK-8 method ( n = 20 for each group). *** p < 0.001, Exercise vs . Control. (E) Scratch assay results showed that exosomes derived from the exercise group significantly promoted the migratory ability of human EPC compared to those from the control group ( n = 5 for each group). * p < 0.05, Exercise vs . Control. (F) Representative images of wound healing in the scratch assay, showcasing the migratory response of human EPC. (G) Characterization of circulating exosomes from rat peripheral blood. (H) Quantitative analysis of exosomes derived from rat peripheral blood revealed no statistically significant difference in the number of exosomes isolated from equal volumes of circulating blood among all groups ( n = 3 for each group). (I) Cell proliferation assays revealed that exosomes derived from the HC group exhibited a diminished capacity to promote EPC proliferation compared to those from the NC group in rats. In contrast, exosomes induced by 8 weeks of aerobic exercise significantly enhanced EPC proliferation ( n : 5–6 for each group). * p < 0.05, HC vs . NC; ## p < 0.01, HE vs . HC. (J) Scratch assays indicated that exosomes derived from the HC group exhibited a diminished capacity to enhance EPC migration rates compared to those from the NC group in rats. In contrast, exosomes induced by 8 weeks of aerobic exercise significantly enhanced EPC migration rates ( n = 4 for each group). ** p < 0.01, HC vs . NC; ## p < 0.01, HE vs . HC. (K) Representative images of wound healing in the scratch assay, showcasing the migratory response of rat EPC. CCK-8 = cell counting kit-8; CD63 = cluster of differentiation 63; EPC = endothelial progenitor cells; HC = the high-fat diet with sedentary group; HE = the high-fat diet with exercise group; NC = the normal diet with sedentary group; TSG101 = tumor susceptibility gene 101.

Article Snippet: The primary antibodies used included PI3K (SC-365290, 1:1000; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX, USA), Akt1 (SC-5298, 1:1000; Santa Cruz), p-Akt (Ser473) (66444-1-lg, 1:1000; Proteintech Group, Rosemont, IL, USA), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) (60300-1-Ig, 1:1000; Proteintech), tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) (DF8427, 1:1000; Affinity Biosciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA), cluster of differentiation 63 (CD63) (AF5117, 1:1000; Affinity), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (GB15002-100, 1:4000; Servicebio).

Techniques: Migration, Transmission Assay, Electron Microscopy, Derivative Assay, Isolation, Control, Proliferation Assay, CCK-8 Assay, Wound Healing Assay, Cell Counting

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Microenvironment-educated MSC-EVs loaded injectable smart hydrogel for targeting senescent nucleus pulposus cells and inhibiting ferroptosis against intervertebral disc degeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.030

Figure Lengend Snippet: Senescent Microenvironment-Educated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Release High-Affinity Senescent NPC Domesticated Extracellular Vesicles. (A) Schematic diagram of the experimental setup for educating MSCs with SASP-CM to generate D-EVs versus N-EVs. (B) Confocal microscopy images showing different EVs internalization by senescent NPCs after 12 h in vitro. (C) Flow cytometry and quantification analysis of different EVs uptake by senescent NPCs. (D) In vivo validation of the senescent niche. Representative fluorescence images following injection of senescence-tracer (Red). (E) In vivo PKH26-labeled D-EVs tracking. (F) Representative SA-β-Gal images and quantification of MSCs treated with SASP-CM or not. (G) Gene Ontology (GO) analysis confirming enrichment of external encapsulating structure organization and cytokine production in Biological Process (BP) categories. (H) Heatmap indicating gene expression associated with EVs biogenesis within D-MSCs and N-MSCs. (I) Heatmap indicating gene expression associated with cytokine production within D-MSCs and N-MSCs. (J and L) Gene Ontology (GO) analysis confirming enrichment of terms related to vesicle organization and transport in the Cellular Component (CC) categories. (K) Western blot analysis confirmed core senescence markers p16 and p21 and DNA damage marker γ-H2AX in N-MSC and D-MSC. (M) Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of CD9, CD63, TSG101, Calnexin, and GM130 in MSC-EVs, N-EVs, or D-EVs. (N) TEM images showing the morphology and size of MSC-derived EVs, N-EVs, and D-EVs. (O) NTA shows size distribution in MSC-EVs, N-EVs, or D-EVs. The data were presented as mean ± SD. n = 3, ns, not significant; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: After blocked with 5% non-fat milk for 2 h at room temperature, the membranes were incubated with primary antibodies against GAPDH (1:5000, 104941-AP, Proteintech), TSG101 (1:1000, DF8427, Affinity), CD9 (1:1000, AF5139, Affinity), CD63 (1:2000, 25682-1-AP, Proteintech), Calnexin (1:5000, 10427-2-AP, Proteintech), GM130 (1:20000, 11308-1-AP, Proteintech), CXCR3 (1:5000, 26756-1-AP, Proteintech), CXCL10 (1:2000, 10937-1-AP, Proteintech), MMP3 (1:2000, 17873-1-AP, Proteintech), ADAMTS5 (DF13268, Affinity), P16 (AF5484, Affinity), P21 (10355-1-AP, Proteintech), GPX4 (1:1000, 381958, Zen-bio), SLC7A11 (1:1000, 26864-1-AP, Proteintech), ACSL4 (1:5000, 22401-1-AP, Proteintech) and Tubulin (1:10000, T40103 , Abmart) overnight at 4 °C.

Techniques: Confocal Microscopy, In Vitro, Flow Cytometry, In Vivo, Biomarker Discovery, Fluorescence, Injection, Labeling, Gene Expression, Western Blot, Marker, Expressing, Derivative Assay

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Microenvironment-educated MSC-EVs loaded injectable smart hydrogel for targeting senescent nucleus pulposus cells and inhibiting ferroptosis against intervertebral disc degeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.030

Figure Lengend Snippet: Senescent Microenvironment-Educated Mesenchymal Stem Cells Release High-Affinity Senescent NPC Domesticated Extracellular Vesicles. (A) Schematic diagram of the experimental setup for educating MSCs with SASP-CM to generate D-EVs versus N-EVs. (B) Confocal microscopy images showing different EVs internalization by senescent NPCs after 12 h in vitro. (C) Flow cytometry and quantification analysis of different EVs uptake by senescent NPCs. (D) In vivo validation of the senescent niche. Representative fluorescence images following injection of senescence-tracer (Red). (E) In vivo PKH26-labeled D-EVs tracking. (F) Representative SA-β-Gal images and quantification of MSCs treated with SASP-CM or not. (G) Gene Ontology (GO) analysis confirming enrichment of external encapsulating structure organization and cytokine production in Biological Process (BP) categories. (H) Heatmap indicating gene expression associated with EVs biogenesis within D-MSCs and N-MSCs. (I) Heatmap indicating gene expression associated with cytokine production within D-MSCs and N-MSCs. (J and L) Gene Ontology (GO) analysis confirming enrichment of terms related to vesicle organization and transport in the Cellular Component (CC) categories. (K) Western blot analysis confirmed core senescence markers p16 and p21 and DNA damage marker γ-H2AX in N-MSC and D-MSC. (M) Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of CD9, CD63, TSG101, Calnexin, and GM130 in MSC-EVs, N-EVs, or D-EVs. (N) TEM images showing the morphology and size of MSC-derived EVs, N-EVs, and D-EVs. (O) NTA shows size distribution in MSC-EVs, N-EVs, or D-EVs. The data were presented as mean ± SD. n = 3, ns, not significant; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: After blocked with 5% non-fat milk for 2 h at room temperature, the membranes were incubated with primary antibodies against GAPDH (1:5000, 104941-AP, Proteintech), TSG101 (1:1000, DF8427, Affinity), CD9 (1:1000, AF5139, Affinity), CD63 (1:2000, 25682-1-AP, Proteintech), Calnexin (1:5000, 10427-2-AP, Proteintech), GM130 (1:20000, 11308-1-AP, Proteintech), CXCR3 (1:5000, 26756-1-AP, Proteintech), CXCL10 (1:2000, 10937-1-AP, Proteintech), MMP3 (1:2000, 17873-1-AP, Proteintech), ADAMTS5 (DF13268, Affinity), P16 (AF5484, Affinity), P21 (10355-1-AP, Proteintech), GPX4 (1:1000, 381958, Zen-bio), SLC7A11 (1:1000, 26864-1-AP, Proteintech), ACSL4 (1:5000, 22401-1-AP, Proteintech) and Tubulin (1:10000, T40103 , Abmart) overnight at 4 °C.

Techniques: Confocal Microscopy, In Vitro, Flow Cytometry, In Vivo, Biomarker Discovery, Fluorescence, Injection, Labeling, Gene Expression, Western Blot, Marker, Expressing, Derivative Assay