Weathering a cytokine storm with extracellular vesicles
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Oct-2026 18:16 ET (22-Oct-2026 22:16 GMT/UTC)
Researchers from the University of Osaka found that hepatocyte-derived extracellular vesicles treated with sPLA2 (SPLEVs) induce a lipid counterstorm that counteracts cytokine storm in mice with acute respiratory distress syndrome. SPLEVs also demonstrated significant beneficial effects in mouse models of sepsis, coagulopathy, liver injury, colitis, and pneumonia. As lysophosphatidylglycerols were identified as a key mediator of SPLEV activity, these findings suggest a promising approach for developing inexpensive, cell-free anti-inflammatory treatments.
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Grounding intermittent art festivals such as the Setouchi Triennale within the resource capacities and social thresholds of the island communities that host them is a path to the sustainable long-term revitalization of these communities.
Xenophagocytosis is a natural immune process that limits interspecies organ generation by eliminating living donor cells, report researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan. By uncovering how embryonic macrophages eliminate living donor cells, the researchers developed strategies to block this response. Using this strategy, they significantly improved donor cell survival and generation of rat pancreas in mice, bringing us one step closer to producing transplantable human organs in animals.
A new study suggests that a soy-derived lysolecithin, LPC70, reduced high-salt diet (HSD)-induced hypertension, social behavior deficits, and object recognition memory impairment in mice. The benefits are associated with receptor-specific regulation in prostaglandin (PG) signaling. An increased production of arachidonic acid-derived PGs was also noted. The findings suggest LPC70 may serve as a functional food ingredient to mitigate HSD-associated cardiovascular and cognitive decline.
Osaka Metropolitan University researchers found that participation in community gathering places was associated with a lower risk of cognitive disability among older adults without regular exercise habits. In this group, participants had about half the risk of developing cognitive disability compared with non-participants, whereas no such association was observed among older adults who already exercised regularly.
A joint research team from Saitama University and the University of the Ryukyus has developed an energy management framework for recirculating aquaculture systems that coordinates renewable energy, battery storage, and aerator operation while maintaining dissolved oxygen levels needed to keep fish safe. By combining experimental data from Malabar grouper with model predictive control, the framework reduced annual electricity use by 17.8% and CO₂ emissions by 31.9% in simulations, while also helping maintain dissolved oxygen levels during power outages.
Researchers from the University of Osaka and collaborating institutions developed an autonomous solid-state nanopore that combines sensing, memory, and signal generation in a single device. Unlike conventional nanopores, the sensor continually reshapes itself through chemical reactions, producing unique electrical signatures as molecules pass through, providing a basis for memory. The device successfully identified a variety of nucleotides and amino acids, providing a new platform for molecular sensing and future iontronic computing.