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: Biomedicines

Article Title: Environmental Lead Promotes Breast Cancer Migration and Invasion via the AKR1C3–NF-κB–MMP Axis

doi: 10.3390/biomedicines14020286

Figure Lengend Snippet: Schematic diagram of Pb exposure promoting malignant progression of breast cancer via activation of the AKR1C3-NF-κB-MMP-2/MMP-9 axis (The pink arrow indicates promotion).

Article Snippet: Recombinant MMP-9 protein (HY- P73300 , MedChemExpress) was activated with APMA (HY-148905, MedChemExpress) and then added to the cell culture medium at a concentration of 20 μg/mL.

Techniques: Activation Assay