Urine-derived cells from the aged donor for the 2D/3D modeling of neural cells via iPSCs.

Human neural cell models derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been widely accepted to model various neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) . Although the most common sources of iPSCs are fibroblasts and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the collection of these cells is invasive. To reduce the donor's burden, we propose the use of urine-derived cells (UDCs), which can be obtained non-invasively from a urine sample.

Placental labyrinth formation in mice requires endothelial FLRT2/UNC5B signaling.

The placental labyrinth is the interface for gas and nutrient exchange between the embryo and the mother; hence its proper development is essential for embryogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying development of the placental labyrinth, particularly in terms of its endothelial organization, is not well understood. Here, we determined that fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein 2 (FLRT2), a repulsive ligand of the UNC5 receptor family for neurons, is unexpectedly expressed in endothelial cells specifically in the placental labyrinth.

Chemistry and biological effects of melanoidins and glyceraldehyde-derived pyridinium as advanced glycation end products.

Blue pigments (blue-M1 and blue-M2) and red pigments (red-M1 and red-M2) were generated in a xylose-glycine reaction system. Blue-M2 was identified as an addition compound of di-xylulose-glycine to blue-M1 that involved two pyrrolopyrrole structures. We identified red pigments as isomers of addition compounds of xylulose-glycine to the condensed compound between pyrrolopyrrole-2-carbaldehyde and pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde.