Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Bioengineered extracellular vesicles escape lysosomal degradation and deliver Tet-PKM2 for macrophage immunometabolic reprogramming and periodontitis treatment

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.01.002

Figure Lengend Snippet: Metabolic reprogramming and enhanced mitochondrial function in LPS-activated macrophages in response to LEV Tet−PKM2 @TA treatment. The macrophages were pretreated with 100 ng/mL LPS for 24 h and then treated with PBS (Control), 100 μg/mL LEVs PKM2 , LEVs Tet−PKM2 , or LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA for another 24 h. ( A ) Heatmap representing differentially detected metabolites involved in glycolysis and the TCA cycle in the Control, LEVs PKM2 , LEVs Tet−PKM2 , or LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA groups ( n = 4). ( B ) Concentrations of key glycolysis and TCA metabolites in Control, LEVs PKM2 , LEVs Tet−PKM2 , and LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA groups ( n = 4). ( C ) Schematic illustration revealing changes in key glycolysis and TCA metabolites in the LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA group versus the Control group. The up (down) arrows indicate increased (decreased) levels of metabolites in macrophages. ( D ) Kinetic profile of the ECAR in LPS-activated macrophages in response to sequential injections of glucose, oligomycin, and 2-DG in various groups (Seahorse XF test) ( n = 4). ( E ) Quantification of glycolysis, glycolytic capacity and glycolytic reserve in the Control, LEVs PKM2 , LEVs Tet−PKM2 , and LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA groups ( n = 4). ( F ) Kinetic profile of the OCR in LPS-activated macrophages in response to sequential injections of oligomycin, FCCP, and Rot/AA in various groups (Seahorse XF test) ( n = 4). ( G ) Quantification of basal respiration, ATP production, and maximal respiration in the Control, LEVs PKM2 , LEVs Tet−PKM2 , and LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA groups ( n = 4). ( H ) JC-1 aggregation (red fluorescence) in healthy mitochondria and cytosolic JC-1 monomers in compromised mitochondria (green fluorescence) (immunofluorescence assays). ( I ) Quantitative analysis of MMP levels determined by the relative ratio of red/green fluorescence intensity in the Control, LEVs PKM2 , LEVs Tet−PKM2 , and LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA groups ( n = 4). ( J ) Intracellular ATP levels of LPS-activated macrophages in the Control, LEVs PKM2 , LEVs Tet−PKM2 , and LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA groups ( n = 3). ( K-M ) The macrophages were pretreated with 100 ng/mL LPS for 24 h and then treated with PBS (Control), 10 μM UK-5099, 100 μg/mL LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA, or 10 μM UK-5099 plus 100 μg/mL LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA for another 24 h. ( K ) Schematic illustration revealing mechanism of LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA promotes macrophage metabolic reprogramming depending on pyruvate influx into the TCA cycle. ( L ) Kinetic profile of the OCR in LPS-activated macrophages in response to sequential injections of oligomycin, FCCP, and Rot/AA in various groups (Seahorse XF test) ( n = 3). ( M ) Quantification of basal respiration, ATP production, and maximal respiration in the Control, UK-5099, LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA, and UK-5099 + LEVs Tet−PKM2 @TA groups ( n = 3). The data are expressed as the mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way ANOVA ( B , E , G, I, J , and M ). ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, and ∗∗∗ p < 0.001 indicate significant differences between the indicated columns.

Article Snippet: The MMP of the macrophages was assessed using a JC-1 MMP Assay Kit (MCE).

Techniques: Control, Fluorescence, Immunofluorescence

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: On-demand mild photothermal cascade platform reprogramming mitochondrial immunity for tendon rejuvenation

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.01.004

Figure Lengend Snippet: LT-NPs-NIR attenuate oxidative stress, preserve mitochondrial integrity, and suppress senescence in TSPCs by inhibiting the mtDNA-STING-NF-κB axis. (A) Schematic of the experimental design. (B) TSPC proliferation assessed by CCK-8 assay. (C, E) Immunofluorescence staining and quantification of HSP70 (n = 3). (D, F) Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) visualized by JC-1 staining (red: high potential; green: low potential) and quantification. (G) Multi-SIM of mtDNA (magenta) and TOMM20 (green) with colocalization analysis. (H) Western blot of cGAS-STING-IRF3-NF-κB pathway proteins. (I, K) Colony-forming unit fibroblast (CFU-F) assay and quantification of self-renewal capacity (n = 3). (J) Senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity. (L, M) Apoptosis analysis by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry and quantification (n = 3). Scale bars: 100 μm (C); 5 μm (D, G); 200 μm (J). Significance: ns, not significant; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was evaluated via JC-1 staining (MedChemExpress, USA).

Techniques: CCK-8 Assay, Immunofluorescence, Staining, Membrane, Western Blot, Activity Assay, Flow Cytometry

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Regulation of mitochondrial DNA homeostasis by a mitochondrial microprotein

doi: 10.64898/2026.02.20.706844

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Representative confocal images of WT, AltSLC35A4-KO, and rescue cells stained with the potential-sensitive dye JC-1. Green fluorescence (530 nm) corresponds to JC-1 monomers, while magenta fluorescence (590 nm) reflects J-aggregates formed at high Δψm. Scale bars, 10 µm. (B) Quantification of the red (590 nm)/green (530 nm) fluorescence ratio. (C) Validation of the assay using FCCP in WT cells, showing complete depolarization with loss of JC-1 aggregates. Scale bars, 100 µm. (D) Quantification of JC-1 ratios confirms the expected reduction upon FCCP treatment. Data represent mean ± SD from n = 3 independent experiments. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA; *, p < 0.05; ns, not significant.

Article Snippet: After 24 hours, cells were washed once with PBS and stained with JC-1 dye (5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide; final concentration: 7.6 μM in DMSO) (StressMarq Biosciences, SIH-562-5MG) for 15 minutes at 37 °C.

Techniques: Staining, Fluorescence, Biomarker Discovery