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: Targeting Capability of D-EVs to Senescent NPCs is Mediated by the CXCL10-CXCR3 Axis. (A) Schematic diagram of RNA sequencing for senescent NPCs treated with D-EVs or not. (B-C) Volcano plots and heatmaps displaying differential gene expression in senescent NPCs treated with D-EVs or not. (D) A Venn diagram illustrates overlap between DEGs identified in senescent NPCs treated with D-EVs and key gene databases for cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. (E) A Venn diagram illustrates overlap between DEGs identified in D-MSCs and chemokine signaling pathway key gene databases. (F-G) Network analysis of the hub genes among the above total DEGs. A protein-protein interaction network was created in the STRING database, while the Cytoscape software was used to determine the hub genes in the network. (H) GO analysis confirming enrichment of terms related to senescent NPCs treated with D-EVs or not in the BP categories. (I) GSEA analysis of cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions in D-EVs group versus TBHP group. (J) Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of CXCR3 in Control and senescent NPCs, and (S) quantitative analysis. (K) Western blot analysis confirmed the expression of CXCL10 in N-EVs and D-EVs, and (R) quantitative analysis. (L) Protein binding analysis of CXCR3 and CXCL10 by PyMOL. (M) Confocal analysis of the uptake of pHrodo-labeled EVs in senescent NPCs following the treatments of N-EVs, D-EVs with CXCL10 knockout/anti-CXCR3, or not, and (Q) quantitative analysis. (N) In vivo tracking of PKH26-labeled CXCL10 knockout D-EVs. (O) Flow cytometry showing uptake of different EVs with CXCL10 knockout/anti-CXCR3 or not by senescent NPCs, and (P) quantitative analysis. 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: RNA Sequencing, Gene Expression, Software, Western Blot, Expressing, Control, Protein Binding, Labeling, Knock-Out, In Vivo, Flow Cytometry