Bioengineering

Matrix viscoelasticity regulates dendritic cell migration and immune priming

1. Wei-Hung Jung
2. Emie Humann
3. Joshua M Price
4. Yoav Binenbaum
5. Azra Haseki
6. Sanjana Iyer
7. Daivd J Mooney

Reviewed by preLights

Glycogen engineering improves the starvation resistance of mesenchymal stem cells and their therapeutic efficacy in pulmonary fibrosis

1. Yongyue Xu
2. Mamatali Rahman
3. Zhaoyan Wang
4. Bo Zhang
5. Hanqi Xie
6. Lei Wang
7. Haowei Xu
8. Xiaodan Sun
9. Shan Cheng
10. Qiong Wu

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important study presents a novel approach to enhance the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) by genetically modifying their glycogen synthesis pathway, resulting in increased glycogen accumulation and improved cell survival under starvation conditions, particularly in the context of experimental pulmonary fibrosis. The methods and findings are generally solid and could be strengthened in the future by investigating the kinetics of persistence, the immunomodulatory effects, and the underlying improved mechanism of action of MSCs in this pulmonary fibrosis model. If confirmed, this approach could suggest potential methods to improve the therapeutic functionality of MSCs in cell therapy strategies.

Reviewed by eLife

Comparing Linear and Nonlinear Finite Element Models of Vertebral Strength Across the Thoracolumbar Spine: A Benchmark from Density-Calibrated Computed Tomography

1. Matthias Walle
2. Bryn E. Matheson
3. Steven K. Boyd

Reviewed by GigaScience

Dissecting organoid-bacteria interaction highlights decreased contractile force as a key factor for heart infection

1. Anheng Wang
2. Jiaxian Wang
3. Zhe Zhang
4. Chuan Yang
5. Chunhao Deng
6. Guokai Chen
7. Chengwu Li
8. Qian Wang
9. Lei Dong
10. Chunming Wang

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This manuscript reports important findings that have theoretical or practical implications beyond a single subfield. However, despite the combination of numerous analytical tools established and applied in the study, the work has substantial experimental limitations leading to incomplete evidence, indicating that the conclusions may be an over-interpretation of the findings.

Reviewed by eLife

XAI-based Data Visualization in Multimodal Medical Data

1. Sahil Sharma
2. Muskaan Singh
3. Liam McDaid
4. Saugat Bhattacharyya

Reviewed by PREreview

The heterogeneity of dermal mesenchymal cells reproduced in skin equivalents regulates barrier function and elasticity

1. Shun Kimura
2. Sachiko Sekiya
3. Sawa Yamashiro
4. Tetsutaro Kikuchi
5. Masatoshi Haga
6. Tatsuya Shimizu

Reviewed by Review Commons

Cap-independent co-expression of dsRNA-sensing and NF-κB pathway inhibitors enables controllable self-amplifying RNA expression with reduced immunotoxicity

1. Tony KY Lim
2. Anne Ritoux
3. Luke W Paine
4. Larissa Ferguson
5. Tawab Abdul
6. Laura J Grundy
7. Ewan St John Smith

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  In this manuscript, Lim and collaborators present an important system for developing self-amplifying RNA with convincing evidence that it does not provoke a strong host inflammatory response in cultured cells. This approach could be further strengthened going forward by testing these self-amplying RNAs in an in vivo system.

Reviewed by eLife

The flexible stalk domain of sTREM2 modulates its interactions with brain-based phospholipids

1. David Saeb
2. Emma E Lietzke
3. Daisy I Fuchs
4. Emma C Aldrich
5. Kimberley D Bruce
6. Kayla G Sprenger

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This useful manuscript addresses some key molecular mechanisms on the neuroprotective roles of soluble TREM2 in neurodegenerative diseases. The study will advance our understanding of TREM2 mutations, particularly on the damaging effect of known TREM2 mutations, and also provides solid evidence why soluble TREM2 can antagonize Aβ aggregation.

Reviewed by eLife

An automated microfluidic platform for toxicity testing based on Caenorhabditis elegans

1. Jiaying Wu
2. Jing Xi
3. Zhouhai Zhu
4. Wei Zhao
5. Qiyuan Peng
6. Chunbo Liu
7. Ziqian Wan
8. Yiyi Cao
9. Xiang Chen
10. Yang Luan

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Modular DNA barcoding of nanobodies enables multiplexed in situ protein imaging and high-throughput biomolecule detection

1. Shilin Zhong
2. Ruiyu Wang
3. Xinwei Gao
4. Qingchun Guo
5. Rui Lin
6. Minmin Luo

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This fundamental manuscript presents a practical modification of the orthogonal hybridization chain reaction (HCR) technique, a promising yet underutilized method with broad potential for future applications across various fields. The authors advance this technique by integrating peptide ligation technology and nanobody-based antibody mimetics-cost-effective and scalable alternatives to conventional antibodies-into a DNA-immunoassay framework that merges oligonucleotide-based detection with immunoassay methodologies. Notably, they demonstrate with compelling evidence that this approach facilitates a modified ELISA platform capable of simultaneously quantifying multiple target protein expression levels within a single protein mixture sample.

Reviewed by eLife