Reprogramming the spleen into a functioning ‘liver’ in vivo

ObjectiveLiver regeneration remains one of the biggest clinical challenges. Here, we aim to transform the spleen into a liver-like organ via directly reprogramming the splenic fibroblasts into hepatocytes in vivo.DesignIn the mouse spleen, the number of fibroblasts was through silica particles (SiO2) stimulation, the expanded fibroblasts were converted to hepatocytes (iHeps) by lentiviral transfection of three key transcriptional factors (Foxa3, Gata4 and Hnf1a), and the iHeps were further expanded with tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and lentivirus-mediated expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF).ResultsSiO2 stimulation tripled the number of activated fibroblasts. Foxa3, Gata4 and Hnf1a converted SiO2-remodelled spleen fibroblasts into 2×106 functional iHeps in one spleen. TNF-α protein and lentivirus-mediated expression of EGF and HGF further enabled the total hepatocytes to expand to 8×106 per spleen. iHeps possessed hepatic functions—such as glycogen storage, lipid accumulation and drug metabolism—and performed fundamental liver functions to improve the survival rate of mice with 90% hepatectomy.ConclusionDirect conversion of the spleen into a liver-like organ, without cell or tissue transplantation, establishes fundamental hepatic functions in mice, suggesting its potential value for the treatment of end-stage liver diseases.

Re-Envisioning Urban Open Spaces

Cities are expanding rapidly, and the impact of dense human-oriented urban systems on ecosystems is both direct (conversion of natural land cover to urban footprint) and indirect. Human settlements are more complex than any other ecosystems as they meet human socio-ecological needs and support local biodiversity. The open spaces of a city with rich cultural character and biodiversity have become important elements of urban design, where urban systems can be planned to coexist with local biodiversity without disturbing the ecosystem. With the need to redefine urban footprint as an ecologically rich urban environment, this chapter addresses the definition of urban open space and questions the coexistence of humans and biodiversity in urban open spaces.

Highly Promoted Electrocatalytic Activity of Spinel CoFe2O4 by Combination with Er0.4Bi1.6O3 as a Bifunctional Oxygen Electrode for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells

Solid oxide cells (SOCs) allow the eco-friendly and direct conversion between chemical energies (e.g., hydrogen) and electric power, effectively mitigating the environmental issues associated with excessive fossil fuel consumption. Herein,...

Hydrogenation of CO2 into aromatics over ZnZrO-Zn/HZSM-5 composite catalysts derived from ZIF-8

The direct conversion of CO2 to aromatics is a great strategic significance for the realization of carbon capture, utilization and storage. However, the efficient conversion of CO2 is still challenging...

Direct Conversion X-ray Detectors with 70 pA/cm2 Dark Currents Coated from an Alcohol-based Perovskite Ink

Direct conversion x-ray image detectors offer higher spatial resolution than their indirect counterparts. Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites are among the most sensitive x-ray photoconductors for these detectors; however, high dark currents...

Theoretical aspects of direct conversion of radio-chemical energy in electric by radiation-stimulated SiC*/Si heterostructure

The authors consider their own CVD technology for the SiC growing on a Si substrate in order to create a beta converter. Since the beta converter contains a heavy C-14 atom, the finished beta converter works as an ”inner sun”, and the structure has specific mark * in the name: SiC*/Si. Authors focus on the problems of the theoretical description of: 1) the growth of the SiC*/Si film (with C-14 atoms inside) and the position of the p-n junction in the doping process; 2) method of a placement radioisotopes into a semiconductor material; 3) physical properties of radioisotopes; 4) defects formation; 5) generation of secondary electrons in the region of the p-n junction.