Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Precisely regulated physically-crosslinked carriers enable synergetic release of bioactive factors for MSC-mediated cartilage regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.01.009

Figure Lengend Snippet: In vivo chondrogenesis of hydrogels incorporated with different combinations of PSF and KSF. (a) Alcian blue and Safranin O staining of different combinations after 21-day implantation. G1: 5 % β-sheet PSF +5 % β-sheet KSF; G2: 15 % β-sheet PSF +30 % β-sheet KSF; G3: 30 % β-sheet PSF +40 % β-sheet KSF; G4: 40 % β-sheet PSF +50 % β-sheet KSF. Scale bar = 200 μm. (b–d) Quantitative analysis of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α surrounding defect cartilage 1 week and 3 weeks after operation. (e, f) Macroscopic and MRI observations of rat femoral condyles at week 6 and 12. Red circles and red arrows show the original defect zone under macroscope and MRI respectively. Scale bar = 1 mm. (g) Relative ratio of average optical density (versus G1) that shows the staining intensity of Alcian blue and Safranin O staining. (h) ICRS scoring of macroscopic evaluations. (i) The repaired cartilage using a nanoindentation instrument. Scale bar = 1 cm. (j, k) Reduced modulus and hardness of the regenerated cartilage. ∗p < 0.05; ∗∗p < 0.01; ∗∗∗p < 0.001; ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: The suspension was centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 10 min at 4 °C, and the supernatant was collected, and Elisa assay was performed following the manufacturer's instructions for rat IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α ELISA kits (Elabscience, China).

Techniques: In Vivo, Staining

Journal: Genes & Diseases

Article Title: Targeting MDK alleviates bone loss via dual regulation of osteogenic differentiation and inflammatory cytokine expression

doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101931

Figure Lengend Snippet: iMDK alleviates bone loss via dual regulation of bone formation and inflammatory cytokines. (A) Representative micro-CT images of distal femora (top) with three-dimensional reconstruction of the region of interest (bottom), with the blue indicating higher-density bone and the red indicating lower-density bone. (B – D) Statistical quantification of trabecular bone microstructural parameters (BMD, BV/TV, and Tb.Th). Inter-group comparisons were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. (E) Representative images of trabecular bone area in distal femur sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Scale bar, 200 μm or 50 μm. (F) Quantitative analysis of the trabecular bone area of the distal femur stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Inter-group comparisons were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. (G) Immunohistochemical staining of OCN in distal femurs. Scale bar, 200 μm or 50 μm. (H) Quantitative analysis of OCN-positive area. Inter-group comparisons were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. (I) Western blotting analysis of inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in mouse bone tissues. (J) Inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) in mouse serum was detected by ELISA. Inter-group comparisons were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001, and ∗∗∗∗ p < 0.0001; “ns” indicates non-significant differences.

Article Snippet: We purchased the Mouse P1NP (Procollagen 1 N-Terminal Propeptide) ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0233), Mouse IL-6 ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0044), Mouse TNF-α ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m3063), and Mouse IL-1β ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0037) from Elabscience (Wuhan, China).

Techniques: Micro-CT, Staining, Immunohistochemical staining, Western Blot, Expressing, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Journal: Genes & Diseases

Article Title: Targeting MDK alleviates bone loss via dual regulation of osteogenic differentiation and inflammatory cytokine expression

doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101931

Figure Lengend Snippet: Recombinant MDK protein triggers the activation of inflammatory cytokines through the NF-κB signaling pathway. (A, B) IL-6, TNFα, and IL-1β expression levels were detected using Western blotting. MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with recombinant MDK protein (600 ng/mL). Osteogenic differentiation was induced for 7 days. Inter-group comparisons were analyzed by a two-tailed unpaired Student's t -test (for normally distributed data with equal variance). (C, D) Western blotting analysis of NF-κB signaling pathway molecules in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with recombinant MDK protein for 7 days during osteoblastic differentiation. Inter-group comparisons were analyzed by two-tailed unpaired Student's t -test (for normally distributed data with equal variance). (E, F) IL-6 and IL-1β expression levels were detected using Western blotting. MC3T3-E1 cells were pretreated with 10 μM BAY 11–7082. Osteogenic differentiation was induced for 7 days. Inter-group comparisons were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. ∗ p < 0.05 and ∗∗ p < 0.01.

Article Snippet: We purchased the Mouse P1NP (Procollagen 1 N-Terminal Propeptide) ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0233), Mouse IL-6 ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0044), Mouse TNF-α ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m3063), and Mouse IL-1β ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0037) from Elabscience (Wuhan, China).

Techniques: Recombinant, Activation Assay, Expressing, Western Blot, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Genes & Diseases

Article Title: Targeting MDK alleviates bone loss via dual regulation of osteogenic differentiation and inflammatory cytokine expression

doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101931

Figure Lengend Snippet: Schematic representation of MDK alleviating bone loss. MDK is significantly elevated in the serum of postmenopausal osteoporotic women and ovariectomized mice. Due to estrogen deficiency, iMDK alleviates bone loss by promoting bone formation and inhibiting inflammatory factors. Recombinant MDK protein inhibits osteogenic differentiation through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and up-regulates inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β via the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Article Snippet: We purchased the Mouse P1NP (Procollagen 1 N-Terminal Propeptide) ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0233), Mouse IL-6 ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0044), Mouse TNF-α ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m3063), and Mouse IL-1β ELISA Kit (Cat#e-el-m0037) from Elabscience (Wuhan, China).

Techniques: Recombinant