This study is the first to demonstrate that extracellular vesicles transport functionally active hormones. Specifically, it shows that porcine seminal extracellular vesicles carry oxytocin at levels associated with male fertility.

Sequential processing (SqP) of the active layer offers independent optimization of the donor and acceptor with more targeted solvent design, which is considered the most promising strategy for achieving efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). In the SqP method, the favorable interpenetrating network seriously depends on the fine control of the bottom layer swelling. However, the choice of solvent(s) for both the donor and acceptor have been mostly based on a trial-and-error manner. A single solvent often cannot achieve sufficient yet not excessive swelling, which has long been a difficulty in the high efficient SqP OSCs. Herein, two new isomeric molecules are introduced to fine-tune the nucleation and crystallization dynamics that allows judicious control over the swelling of the bottom layer. The strong non-covalent interaction between the isomeric molecule and active materials provides an excellent driving force for optimize the swelling-process. Among them, the molecule with high dipole moment promotes earlier nucleation of the PM6 and provides extended time for crystallization during SqP, improving bulk morphology and vertical phase segregation. As a result, champion efficiencies of 17.38% and 20.00% (certified 19.70%) are achieved based on PM6/PYF-T-o (all-polymer) and PM6/BTP-eC9 devices casted by toluene solvent.

Exosomes facilitate cell-to-cell communication and are involved in key biological processes. Understanding the mechanisms regulating exosome production could offer new therapeutic insights for various diseases. Here, Prof. Zhong’s team demonstrates that exosome secretion is significantly inhibited when glucose is replaced with galactose as the primary carbon source in the culture medium. This glycometabolic regulation of exosome secretion is dependent on the cellular hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). Inhibition of HBP via gene knockdown, pharmacological blockade, or metabolite deprivation markedly suppresses exosome secretion. Mechanistically, HBP regulates multivesicular body (MVB) outward trafficking and its fusion with the plasma membrane via synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25). O-GlcNAcylation of SNAP25 promotes soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly, thereby facilitating exosome release. In summary, these findings reveal a critical role of HBP and protein O-GlcNAcylation in exosome secretion, which may provide new therapeutic targets for exosome-associated diseases, including cancer and inflammatory disorders.

Hair loss and graying, the earliest visible hallmarks of skin aging, result from the functional decline of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) and their niche. Dr. Zhao and colleagues conducted a comprehensive analysis of human scalp samples using single-cell RNA sequencing (11 samples, 57,181 cells in total) and spatial transcriptomics (1 sample) to detail the mechanisms involved. The study confirmed the transitional stages of three mitotic keratinocyte subtypes. Comparison of middle-aged and young scalps revealed three key age-associated changes: activated AP-1 transcription factor complex in keratinocytes; up-regulated DCT gene in melanocytes; and a dramatic decrease in BMP and non-canonical WNT (ncWNT) signaling within the critical dermal papilla-keratinocyte crosstalk. This breakdown of essential inter-cellular communication and activation of stress signals provides valuable, cell-resolved insights into hair follicle aging, supporting the development of future regenerative therapies targeting these pathways.