Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: pH-neutralization strategy to suppress GPCR68 spatiotemporally activates T cells and enhances anti-tumor immunity

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.039

Figure Lengend Snippet: Physicochemical properties of BOLT, and BOLT reduces the growth of tumor cells. (A) Schematic of surface double-layer formation and ion release. (B) Negative zeta potential (−1.365 mV) and high conductivity (1.334 mS/cm), confirming colloidal stability and ion release. (C) Uniform particle size (∼1478 nm) across batches. (D) Interfacial pH buffering in PBS. (E) Naïve CD4 + T cells were isolated and activated using anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 using the culture media with 6.0 pH and treated with various doses of BOLT. RT-qPCR was performed to determine the expression of Gpcr68 at various BOLT doses in activated T cells at acidic pH. (F) Anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 activated CD4 + T cells were treated with different doses of BOLT to determine the protein expression of GPCR68 using Western blot. (G-J) CCK8 assay was performed to analyze the effect of various pH on B16, MC38, 143B, and MG63 cell proliferation. (K-L) Effect of various doses of BOLT on the B16 and K7M2 cell growth to determine the IC-50 of BOLT. Error bars represent mean ± SEM. ∗∗ p < 0.01 and ∗ p < 0.05.

Article Snippet: Murine tumor cell lines B16 melanoma (RRID: CVCL_0159), MC38 colon cancer (RRID: CVCL_B288), and 4T1 (RRID: CRL_2539) were purchased from the ATCC and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco) or DMEM medium (Gibco) with 10% FBS as well as 1% penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Zeta Potential Analyzer, Isolation, Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Western Blot, CCK-8 Assay

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: pH-neutralization strategy to suppress GPCR68 spatiotemporally activates T cells and enhances anti-tumor immunity

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.039

Figure Lengend Snippet: Anti-tumor effects of borate bioactive glass (BOLT) in B16 tumor. (A) Schematic illustration depicting the induction of B16 melanoma tumors, followed by treatment with BOLT at various time points, and tumor harvesting for subsequent analysis. (B) Tumor growth curves showing tumor volume in Control and BOLT-treated B16 melanoma tumors in mice. (C) Tumor weight at the time of harvesting in the BOLT-treated group compared to the Control. (D) Representative images of excised tumors from Control and BOLT-treated mice. (E) In vivo imaging of tumor-bearing mice in both the Control and BOLT-treated groups. (F) Flow cytometry analysis showing IFN-γ production in CD4 + and CD8 + T cells following BOLT treatment compared to Control. (G) Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated TNF-α production in CD4 + and CD8 + T cells in the BOLT-treated group, with a significant increase observed in CD8 + T cells. Student t-test was performed for comparison between the two groups. Two-way ANOVA was used for multiple comparisons. Data represent the mean ± SEM (n = 5). ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01.

Article Snippet: Murine tumor cell lines B16 melanoma (RRID: CVCL_0159), MC38 colon cancer (RRID: CVCL_B288), and 4T1 (RRID: CRL_2539) were purchased from the ATCC and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco) or DMEM medium (Gibco) with 10% FBS as well as 1% penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Control, In Vivo Imaging, Flow Cytometry, Comparison

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: pH-neutralization strategy to suppress GPCR68 spatiotemporally activates T cells and enhances anti-tumor immunity

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.039

Figure Lengend Snippet: BOLT treatment induces ferroptosis in tumor cells. (A) RNA was extracted from Control and BOLT-treated tumors, and RNA sequencing (RNAseq) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes. (B) KEGG pathway analysis was conducted to assess the biological functions of the differentially expressed genes. (C) Heatmap displaying the differential expression of ferroptosis-related genes in BOLT-treated versus Control cells. (D) qRT-PCR analysis showing dose-dependent downregulation of Nrf2 in BOLT-treated cells. (E) qRT-PCR analysis of Duox1 expression in B16 cells following BOLT treatment. (F) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showing mitochondrial shrinkage, increased membrane density, and loss of cristae in BOLT-treated cells. (G) Heatmap showing the dysregulated genes involved in ROS-chemical carcinogenesis in B16 cells treated with BOLT. (H) Flow cytometry analysis revealing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in B16 cells treated with BOLT (0.25 μg/mL) compared to Control. (I) Histogram overlays and bar graph confirm elevated bodipy levels in BOLT-treated cells versus Control. (J) Annexin V/PI staining shows no significant apoptosis in B16 cells following BOLT treatment. (K) Western blot analysis showing the expression of genes involved in downregulating ferroptosis (SLC7A11, FACL4, and GPX4) in BOLT-treated B16 cells. Student t-test was performed for comparison between 2 groups. Two-way ANOVA was used for multiple comparisons. In-vitro experiments were performed in triplicate. Data are mean ± SEM, ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001, and ∗∗∗∗ p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: Murine tumor cell lines B16 melanoma (RRID: CVCL_0159), MC38 colon cancer (RRID: CVCL_B288), and 4T1 (RRID: CRL_2539) were purchased from the ATCC and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco) or DMEM medium (Gibco) with 10% FBS as well as 1% penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Control, RNA Sequencing, RNA sequencing, Quantitative Proteomics, Quantitative RT-PCR, Expressing, Transmission Assay, Electron Microscopy, Membrane, Flow Cytometry, Staining, Western Blot, Comparison, In Vitro

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: pH-neutralization strategy to suppress GPCR68 spatiotemporally activates T cells and enhances anti-tumor immunity

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.02.039

Figure Lengend Snippet: Combinational treatment of BOLT and anti-CTLA-4 blockade enhances anti-tumor immune response in B16 melanoma. (A) C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously injected with 1 × 10 5 B16 melanoma cells on day 0 to induce tumors. On day 7, mice were randomly divided into groups and treated with either BOLT alone (intratumoral injection administered on alternate days starting from day 7), anti-CTLA-4 (intraperitoneal injection administered on days 9, 11, 13, and 15), or a combination of both treatments. PBS was used as a vehicle Control, while IgG was used as anti-CTLA-4 Control. Tumor growth was monitored throughout the treatment period, and tumors were harvested for analysis on day 21. (B-C) Tumor growth curves and area under the curve (AUC) analysis for WT mice treated with BOLT, with or without anti-CTLA-4 antibody, following subcutaneous injection of B16 melanoma cells. Tumor growth was monitored, and analysis was conducted on day 21. (D) Representative images of excised tumors at day 21, showed reduced tumor size in combination-treated mice. (E, F) Flow cytometry analysis of IFN-γ production by tumor-infiltrating CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. (G, H) Flow cytometry analysis of TNF-α production by tumor-infiltrating CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. Two-way ANOVA was used for multiple comparisons. Data are mean ± SEM (n = 5), ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001, and ∗∗∗∗ p < 0.0001.

Article Snippet: Murine tumor cell lines B16 melanoma (RRID: CVCL_0159), MC38 colon cancer (RRID: CVCL_B288), and 4T1 (RRID: CRL_2539) were purchased from the ATCC and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium (Gibco) or DMEM medium (Gibco) with 10% FBS as well as 1% penicillin/streptomycin.

Techniques: Injection, Control, Flow Cytometry

Journal: Journal of Sport and Health Science

Article Title: Long-term aerobic exercise enhances circulating exosomal miR-214-3p to promote endothelial progenitor cell-mediated repair of endothelial damage induced by obesity

doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101094

Figure Lengend Snippet: Eight weeks of aerobic exercise improved the proliferation and migration capabilities of circulating EPC in both humans and rats with obesity through circulating exosomes. (A) Representative transmission electron microscopy image of exosomes derived from human peripheral blood. Scale bar = 200 nm. (B) Exosome characterization and identification. Exosomes derived from human peripheral blood express TSG101 and CD63. (C) Nanoparticle tracking analysis confirms the presence of exosomes with a peak diameter of 100 nm, characteristic of exosomal size. Quantitative analysis of exosomes derived from human peripheral blood revealed no statistically significant difference in the number of exosomes isolated from equal volumes of circulating blood between the control group and the exercise group ( n = 30 for each group). (D) Cell proliferation assay results showed that exosomes derived from the exercise group significantly enhanced the proliferative capacity of human EPC compared to those from the control group, as measured by the CCK-8 method ( n = 20 for each group). *** p < 0.001, Exercise vs . Control. (E) Scratch assay results showed that exosomes derived from the exercise group significantly promoted the migratory ability of human EPC compared to those from the control group ( n = 5 for each group). * p < 0.05, Exercise vs . Control. (F) Representative images of wound healing in the scratch assay, showcasing the migratory response of human EPC. (G) Characterization of circulating exosomes from rat peripheral blood. (H) Quantitative analysis of exosomes derived from rat peripheral blood revealed no statistically significant difference in the number of exosomes isolated from equal volumes of circulating blood among all groups ( n = 3 for each group). (I) Cell proliferation assays revealed that exosomes derived from the HC group exhibited a diminished capacity to promote EPC proliferation compared to those from the NC group in rats. In contrast, exosomes induced by 8 weeks of aerobic exercise significantly enhanced EPC proliferation ( n : 5–6 for each group). * p < 0.05, HC vs . NC; ## p < 0.01, HE vs . HC. (J) Scratch assays indicated that exosomes derived from the HC group exhibited a diminished capacity to enhance EPC migration rates compared to those from the NC group in rats. In contrast, exosomes induced by 8 weeks of aerobic exercise significantly enhanced EPC migration rates ( n = 4 for each group). ** p < 0.01, HC vs . NC; ## p < 0.01, HE vs . HC. (K) Representative images of wound healing in the scratch assay, showcasing the migratory response of rat EPC. CCK-8 = cell counting kit-8; CD63 = cluster of differentiation 63; EPC = endothelial progenitor cells; HC = the high-fat diet with sedentary group; HE = the high-fat diet with exercise group; NC = the normal diet with sedentary group; TSG101 = tumor susceptibility gene 101.

Article Snippet: The primary antibodies used included PI3K (SC-365290, 1:1000; Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Dallas, TX, USA), Akt1 (SC-5298, 1:1000; Santa Cruz), p-Akt (Ser473) (66444-1-lg, 1:1000; Proteintech Group, Rosemont, IL, USA), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) (60300-1-Ig, 1:1000; Proteintech), tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) (DF8427, 1:1000; Affinity Biosciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA), cluster of differentiation 63 (CD63) (AF5117, 1:1000; Affinity), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) (GB15002-100, 1:4000; Servicebio).

Techniques: Migration, Transmission Assay, Electron Microscopy, Derivative Assay, Isolation, Control, Proliferation Assay, CCK-8 Assay, Wound Healing Assay, Cell Counting

Journal: Genes & Diseases

Article Title: Blockade of co-inhibitory receptor immune checkpoint protein TIM3/CD366 augments the anti-cancer activity of CAR-T therapy in solid tumors: An ovarian cancer example

doi: 10.1016/j.gendis.2025.101978

Figure Lengend Snippet: Specific IFN-γ and TNF-α release of T lymphocytes transduced with TIM-3-silenced HER2-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) or HER2-specific CAR. (A, B) TIM-3-silenced CAR-T cells and control T cells were co-incubated with Galectin-9 + or Galectin-9 – SKOV3 tumor cells (E:T ratio 5:1 or 10:1). At 20 h after coculture, a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze the supernatant for IFN-γ cytokine-release. Results were presented as mean ± standard deviation. (C, D) The detection of TNF-α in the same culture supernatant. Results were presented as mean ± standard deviation. ∗ P < 0.05 and ∗∗ P < 0.01.

Article Snippet: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) secretion (eBioscience) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Techniques: Transduction, Control, Incubation, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Standard Deviation