Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Chemical reprogramming of fibroblasts into retinal pigment epithelium cells for vision restoration

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67104-w

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Representative immunostaining showing that MEF-derived ciRPE cells express ZO-1, Pax6, Rpe65, Mitf, Best1 and Cralbp. Scale bars, 50 μm. b Representative Z-stack confocal micrographs showing ciRPE cells with typical polarized expression of RPE markers. ZO-1 (green) demonstrates apical localization (top), while Best1 (red) shows basolateral localization (bottom). Scale bars, 10 μm. c Representative transmission electron microscopy image of ciRPE cells showing apical microvilli (yellow arrows), melanin granules (red arrows) and tight junctions (black arrows). Scale bars, 1 μm. d Representative confocal micrograph showing phagocytosis of POSs (green) by ciRPEs. The apical sides of ciRPE cells are stained with ZO-1(violet), whereas nuclei are counterstained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 50 μm. e Apical and basal secretion of PEDF and VEGF by MEFs, ciRPE, and pRPE cells cultured on Transwells. Each group was compared to the ciRPE group within apical and basal compartments ( n = 6 independent biological samples per group). f Representative morphological images showing dome structures formed by ciRPE cells during in vitro culture. The red arrows indicate the dome morphology observed under different phase-contrast microscopy conditions. Scale bars, 50 μm. g TEER measurements of MEFs, ciRPE, and pRPE cells over time in culture ( n = 6 independent biological samples per group). Data are mean ± SD. One-way ANOVA was used to assess statistical significance. Three independent experiments were performed with similar results and representative results are shown. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Article Snippet: Detailed procedures were followed according to the instructions of the PEDF ELISA kit (CUSABIO, CSB-E08820m and CSB-E08818h) and the VEGF ELISA kit (CUSABIO, CSB-E04756m and CSB-E11718h).

Techniques: Immunostaining, Derivative Assay, Expressing, Transmission Assay, Electron Microscopy, Staining, Cell Culture, In Vitro, Microscopy

Journal: Nature Communications

Article Title: Chemical reprogramming of fibroblasts into retinal pigment epithelium cells for vision restoration

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-67104-w

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Candidate small molecules identified by preliminary screening with scRCF for reprogramming HEFs into OV. b Schematic diagram of the protocol for the reprogramming of HEFs into hciRPE cells, along with representative morphological changes at indicated time points. HM represents the HEF medium, while RM represents the reprogramming medium and DM refers to the differentiation/maturation medium. Scale bar, 300 μm. c FACS purification of reprogrammed BEST1-EGFP + hciRPE cells. d Representative optical microscopy and TEM images of hciRPE cells showing melanin granules (red arrows). Scale bars, 1 μm. e qRT-PCR analysis showing the expression of RPE-associated genes at the indicated time points during reprogramming ( n = 3 independent biological samples per group). f Representative immunostaining analysis showing positive expression of ZO-1, RPE65, MITF and BEST1 in the BEST1-EGFP - HEFs-derived hciRPE cells. Scale bar, 20 μm. g PCA of samples from day 0, day 12, day 24 and day 38 (hciRPE) of celluar reprogramming, and the control primary hRPE cells. h Heatmap showing differentially expressed genes in HEF to hciRPE cell reprogramming samples at indicated time points. The number above heatmap indicates independent biological replicates. Representative genes (left side of the heatmap) and associated GO (right side of the heatmap) for each block are shown. Red and blue indicate upregulated and downregulated genes, respectively. Differential expression was analyzed using the R package limma (v3.58.1) following normalization with edgeR (v4.0.16). Significantly changed genes were defined by |log₂ fold change| > 1.5 and adjusted p < 0.01 (Benjamini-Hochberg correction). i Polarized secretion of VEGF and PEDF from the apical and basal sides of hciRPE cells grown on Transwells ( n = 6 independent biological samples per group). j TEER in hciRPE cells for 30 days. p values indicate comparisons between adjacent time points ( n = 5 independent biological samples per group). Data are mean ± SD. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA ( e ) and unpaired, two-tailed Student’s t- test ( i , j ). Three independent experiments were performed with similar results and representative results are shown. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Article Snippet: Detailed procedures were followed according to the instructions of the PEDF ELISA kit (CUSABIO, CSB-E08820m and CSB-E08818h) and the VEGF ELISA kit (CUSABIO, CSB-E04756m and CSB-E11718h).

Techniques: Purification, Microscopy, Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Immunostaining, Derivative Assay, Control, Blocking Assay, Quantitative Proteomics, Two Tailed Test

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: An injectable phosphocreatine-grafted hydrogel incorporating hierarchically structured teriparatide/SrZnP-functionalized Zn–Cu particles for osteogenesis–angiogenesis coupling and osteoporotic bone regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102272

Figure Lengend Snippet: Pro-angiogenic activity of PTH/SrZnP(2.5)@GGP hydrogels in HUVECs. (A) Schematic illustration of the experimental design for angiogenic assays using Transwell-based co-culture. (B) Representative images of scratch wound healing (0 h and 24 h), Transwell invasion, and Matrigel-based tube formation in HUVECs cultured with different hydrogel groups. (C) Quantification of migration rate (%), invaded cell number, number of tube branches, and total tube length. (D–E) Immunofluorescence staining of CD31 (D) and VEGF (E) in HUVECs after 48 h co-culture, along with F-actin and DAPI. (F) Quantification of relative fluorescence intensity for CD31 and VEGF. (G) Relative mRNA expression levels of CD31 and VEGF in HUVECs. Data are expressed as mean ± SD; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: ELISA kits for VEGF (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK283), BMP-2 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK1108), TNF-α (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK282HS-96), IL-6 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK206HS-96), and human PTH (1–34) (Arigo, Cat# ARG82253 ) were used following the manufacturer's protocols.

Techniques: Activity Assay, Co-Culture Assay, Cell Culture, Migration, Immunofluorescence, Staining, Fluorescence, Expressing

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: An injectable phosphocreatine-grafted hydrogel incorporating hierarchically structured teriparatide/SrZnP-functionalized Zn–Cu particles for osteogenesis–angiogenesis coupling and osteoporotic bone regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102272

Figure Lengend Snippet: Transcriptomic analysis of HUVECs reveals activation of HIF-1 signaling by PTH/SrZnP(2.5)@GGP. (A) Volcano plot showing differentially expressed genes between HUVECs treated with PTH/SrZnP(2.5)@GGP and control (|log 2 FC| > 1, Padj <0.05). (B) Heatmap of the top 50 DEGs ranked by adjusted p-values. (C) GO enrichment analysis of DEGs categorized by biological process, cellular component, and molecular function. (D) KEGG enrichment scatter plot showing enriched pathways; HIF-1 signaling pathway highlighted. (E) GSEA plot confirming enrichment of HIF-1 signaling in the PTH/SrZnP(2.5)@GGP group. (F) Western blot analysis of HIF-1α and VEGF expression in HUVECs. (G) Quantification of protein expression levels normalized to GAPDH. Data are presented as mean ± SD; ∗∗∗p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: ELISA kits for VEGF (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK283), BMP-2 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK1108), TNF-α (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK282HS-96), IL-6 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK206HS-96), and human PTH (1–34) (Arigo, Cat# ARG82253 ) were used following the manufacturer's protocols.

Techniques: Activation Assay, Control, Western Blot, Expressing

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: An injectable phosphocreatine-grafted hydrogel incorporating hierarchically structured teriparatide/SrZnP-functionalized Zn–Cu particles for osteogenesis–angiogenesis coupling and osteoporotic bone regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102272

Figure Lengend Snippet: Mechanistic investigation of hydrogel-mediated bone–vascular coupling via dual-chamber co-culture systems. (A) Schematic illustration of the Transwell co-culture setup to evaluate the effect of hydrogels and BMSCs on HUVEC angiogenesis under HIF-1α pathway inhibition. (B–C) Representative images of HUVEC migration (B) and tube formation (C) under different co-culture conditions. (D–E) Quantitative analysis of tube length (D) and VEGF mRNA expression (E) in HUVECs. (F) Schematic diagram of the Transwell co-culture design to assess BMSC osteogenesis regulated by hydrogel and HUVECs with PI3K pathway blockade. (G–H) Representative images of BMSC migration (G) and ALP staining (H) under indicated conditions. (I) Relative BMP-2 mRNA expression in BMSCs. (J–K) ELISA quantification of VEGF (J) and BMP-2 (K) protein levels in co-culture supernatants. Data are presented as mean ± SD. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001.

Article Snippet: ELISA kits for VEGF (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK283), BMP-2 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK1108), TNF-α (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK282HS-96), IL-6 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK206HS-96), and human PTH (1–34) (Arigo, Cat# ARG82253 ) were used following the manufacturer's protocols.

Techniques: Co-Culture Assay, Inhibition, Migration, Expressing, Staining, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Journal: Materials Today Bio

Article Title: An injectable phosphocreatine-grafted hydrogel incorporating hierarchically structured teriparatide/SrZnP-functionalized Zn–Cu particles for osteogenesis–angiogenesis coupling and osteoporotic bone regeneration

doi: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2025.102272

Figure Lengend Snippet: Schematic illustration of the proposed mechanism by which PTH/SrZnP@GGP hydrogels promote angiogenesis–osteogenesis coupling in osteoporotic bone regeneration. Released Zn 2+ , Sr 2+ , PTH, and Pcr from the hydrogel activate HIF-1α and PI3K–Akt signaling in BMSCs and HUVECs. HIF-1α in BMSCs upregulates VEGF secretion, promoting angiogenesis via VEGF–HIF-1α feedback in HUVECs. Meanwhile, HUVEC-derived BMP-2 enhances osteogenic gene expression (RUNX2, OSX, BMP-2) in BMSCs via PI3K–Akt signaling. Use of inhibitors (2-MeOE2 for HIF-1α and LY294002 for PI3K) confirms the dual-paracrine mechanism of bone–vascular coupling mediated by the hydrogel.

Article Snippet: ELISA kits for VEGF (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK283), BMP-2 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK1108), TNF-α (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK282HS-96), IL-6 (Lianke Biosciences, Cat# EK206HS-96), and human PTH (1–34) (Arigo, Cat# ARG82253 ) were used following the manufacturer's protocols.

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Gene Expression

Journal: Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology

Article Title: Protective Effects of Exogenous Donkey Oil on Skin Healing Under Incisional Wound Damage

doi: 10.1111/jocd.70550

Figure Lengend Snippet: Effects of different concentrations of DO on the content of VEGF (A) and MMP‐9 (B) in the skin tissue of mice after incision injury. # p < 0.05, ### p < 0.001 vs. BC group; * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001 vs. NC group.

Article Snippet: The ELISA kits IL‐1α and VEGF were purchased from ProteinTech (Wuhan, China, Cat No: KE10024 and KE10009); IL‐6 from Multi Sciences (Hangzhou, China, Cat No: EK206/3‐96); PGE2 from Lanpaibio (Shanghai, China, Cat No: LP‐M05161); MMP‐9 from CUSABIO (Wuhan, China, Cat No: CSB‐E08007m).

Techniques: