Non-canonical Wnt signalling regulates scarring in biliary disease via the planar cell polarity receptors

The number of patients diagnosed with chronic bile duct disease is increasing and in most cases these diseases result in chronic ductular scarring, necessitating liver transplantation. The formation of ductular scaring affects liver function; however, scar-generating portal fibroblasts also provide important instructive signals to promote the proliferation and differentiation of biliary epithelial cells. Therefore, understanding whether we can reduce scar formation while maintaining a pro-regenerative microenvironment will be essential in developing treatments for biliary disease. Here, we describe how regenerating biliary epithelial cells express Wnt-Planar Cell Polarity signalling components following bile duct injury and promote the formation of ductular scars by upregulating pro-fibrogenic cytokines and positively regulating collagen-deposition. Inhibiting the production of Wnt-ligands reduces the amount of scar formed around the bile duct, without reducing the development of the pro-regenerative microenvironment required for ductular regeneration, demonstrating that scarring and regeneration can be uncoupled in adult biliary disease and regeneration

Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates ependymal cell development and adult homeostasis

Significance Little is known about the cellular origin and the molecular signals that regulate spinal cord ependymal cells. In this report, we characterize Wnt-responsive progenitor cells throughout spinal cord development, showing that they are restricted to the dorsal midline and give rise to dorsal ependymal cells in a spatially restricted pattern. In the postnatal and adult spinal cord, ependymal cells continue to exhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity, which promotes ependymal cell proliferation. This is demonstrated by the genetic elimination of β-catenin and inhibition of Wnt secretion in Wnt-activated ependymal cells in vivo, which result in impaired proliferation. Our results thus reveal the molecular signals underlying the formation and regulation of spinal cord ependymal cells.</jats:p

Understanding the varying mechanisms between the conformal interlayer and overlayer in the silicon/hematite dual-absorber photoanode for solar water splitting

A conformal overlayer and interlayer of an Al2O3 film were separately introduced into a Si/α-Fe2O3 nanowire photoanode for solar water splitting.</p

An <i>Arabidopsis </i>single-nucleus atlas decodes leaf senescence and nutrient allocation

With rapid advancements in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies, exploration of the systemic coordination of critical physiological processes has entered a new era. Here, we generated a comprehensive Arabidopsis single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas using over 1 million nuclei from 20 tissues encompassing multiple developmental stages. Our analyses identified cell types that have not been characterized in previous single-protoplast studies and revealed cell-type conservation and specificity across different organs. Through time-resolved sampling, we revealed highly coordinated onset and progression of senescence among the major leaf cell types. We originally formulated two molecular indexes to quantify the aging state of leaf cells at single-cell resolution. Additionally, facilitated by weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we identified hundreds of promising hub genes that may integratively regulate leaf senescence. Inspired by the functional validation of identified hub genes, we built a systemic scenario of carbon and nitrogen allocation among different cell types from source leaves to sink organs