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IL-31 receptor blockade suppresses pruritus of atopic dermatitis. However, cell-type-specific contributions of IL-31 receptor to itch, its expression mechanism, and the downstream signaling pathway to induce itch remain unknown. In this report, using conditional knockout mice, the authors demonstrate that IL-31-induced itch requires sensory neuronal IL-31 receptor and STAT3. They find that IL-31 receptor expression is dependent on STAT3 in sensory neurons. In addition, pharmacological experiments suggest that STAT3 activation is important for the itch-inducing signaling downstream of the IL-31 receptor. A cutaneous IL-31 injection induces the nuclear accumulation of activated STAT3 first in sensory neurons that abundantly express IL-31 receptor and then in other itch-transmitting neurons. IL-31 enhances itch induced by various pruritogens including even chloroquine. Finally, pruritus associated with dermatitis is partially dependent on sensory neuronal IL-31 receptor and strongly on sensory neuronal STAT3. Thus, sensory neuronal STAT3 is essential for IL-31-induced itch and further contributes to IL-31-independent inflammatory itch.

Imaging Methods: recorded image confocal microscopy

Organisms: Mus musculus

Plants maintain nutrient homeostasis by controlling the activities and abundance of nutrient transporters. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the borate (B) transporter BOR1 plays a role in the efficient translocation of B under low-B conditions. BOR1 undergoes polyubiquitination in the presence of sufficient B and is then transported to the vacuole via multivesicular bodies (MVBs) to prevent B accumulation in tissues at a toxic level. A previous study indicated that BOR1 physically interacts with mu subunits of adaptor protein complexes AP-3 and AP-4, both involved in vacuolar sorting pathways. In this study, we investigated the roles of AP-3 and AP-4 subunits in BOR1 trafficking in Arabidopsis. The lack of AP-3 subunits did not affect either vacuolar sorting or polar localization of BOR1-GFP, whereas the absence of AP-4 subunits resulted in a delay in high-B-induced vacuolar sorting without affecting polar localization. Super-resolution microscopy revealed a rapid sorting of BOR1-GFP into AP-4-positive spots in the trans-Golgi network (TGN) upon high-B supply. These results indicate that AP-4 is involved in sequestration of ubiquitinated BOR1 into a TGN-specific subdomain 'vacuolar-trafficking zone', and is required for efficient sorting of MVB and vacuole. Their findings have thus helped elucidate the rapid vacuolar sorting process facilitated by AP-4 in plant nutrient transporters.

Imaging Methods: recorded image confocal microscopy time lapse microscopy

Organisms: Arabidopsis thaliana

Background: Mouse nodal immotile cilia mechanically sense the bending direction for left–right (L–R) determination and activate the left-side-specific signaling cascade, leading to increased Nodal activity. Asymmetric distribution of Pkd2, a crucial channel for L–R determination, on immotile cilia has been reported recently. However, the causal relationship between the asymmetric Pkd2 distribution and direction-dependent flow sensing is not well understood. Furthermore, the underlying molecular mechanism directing this asymmetric Pkd2 distribution remains unclear. Results: The effects of several recombinant proteins and inhibitors on the Pkd2 distribution were analyzed using super-resolution microscopy. Notably, bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) affected the Pkd2 distribution. Addi- tionally, three-dimensional manipulation of nodal immotile cilia using optical tweezers revealed that excess BMP4 caused defects in the mechanosensing abil- ity of the cilia. Conclusions: Experimental data together with model calculations suggest that BMP4 regulates the asymmetric distribution of Pkd2 in nodal immotile cilia, thereby affecting the ability of these cilia to sense the bending direction for L– R determination. This study, for the first time, provides insight into the rela- tionship between the asymmetric protein distribution in cilia and their function.

Imaging Methods: recorded image confocal microscopy stimulated emission depletion (STED) time lapse microscopy

Organisms: NCBITaxon:10090

Faithful chromosome segregation requires biorientation, where the pair of kinetochores on the chromosome establish bipolar microtubule attachment. The integrity of the kinetochore, a macromolecular complex built on centromeric DNA, is required for biorientation, but components sufficient for biorientation remain unknown. The authors show that tethering the outer kinetochore heterodimer NDC80-NUF2 to the surface of apolar microbeads establishes their biorientation-like state in mouse cells. NDC80-NUF2 microbeads align at the spindle equator and self-correct alignment errors. The alignment is associated with stable bipolar microtubule attachment and is independent of the outer kinetochore proteins SPC24-SPC25, KNL1, the Mis12 complex, inner kinetochore proteins, and Aurora. Larger microbeads align more rapidly, suggesting a size-dependent biorientation mechanism.

Imaging Methods: recorded image confocal microscopy time lapse microscopy

Organisms: Mus musculus

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated signal transduction controls cell growth and proliferation. The signaling pathway is regulated so that it is activated only by external EGF stimuli, but the mechanisms that prevent EGF-independent spontaneous activation of EGFR-mediated signaling are unknown. Here the authors report cholesterol depletion activates EGFR-mediated signaling without EGF. They applied automated single-molecule imaging to EGFR and characterized the lateral diffusion and cluster formation on cholesterol-depleted and cholesterol-supplemented membranes. In cells in which cholesterol was depleted by methyl-beta-cyclodextrin treatment, EGFR exhibited a reduction in lateral diffusion, an acceleration of cluster formation, and autophosphorylation without EGF. Concurrently, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which is regulated by EGFR-mediated signaling, exhibited phosphorylation and nuclear translocation without EGF. These cholesterol depletion-induced changes were similar, albeit less efficient, to those that occurred with EGF stimulation in normal cells without methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, indicating the spontaneous activation of EGFR signaling. The exogenous supplementation of cholesterol suppressed the methyl-beta-cyclodextrin-induced spontaneous activation of EGFR and ERK nuclear translocation. Single-molecule imaging of EGFR in a large number of cells revealed cell-to-cell heterogeneity, with a sub-population showing a high ability for spontaneous activation. These results provide evidence that EGFR-mediated signaling is properly regulated by cholesterol metabolism to prevent uncontrolled spontaneous activation.

Imaging Methods: recorded image evanescent wave microscopy

Organisms: Cricetulus griseus

HPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of an unreported peptide in the extract of the marine sponge Neopetrosia sp. Its structure was determined as a tripeptide, named neopetromin (1), composed of two tyrosine and one tryptophan residues with a heteroaromatic C−N cross-link between side chains. The absolute configuration of amino acids was determined using Marfey’s method after ozonolysis and hydrolysis of 1. Compound 1 promoted vacuole fragmentation in an actin- independent manner in tobacco BY-2 cells.

Imaging Methods: recorded image confocal microscopy

Organisms: Nicotiana tabacum

HPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of an unreported peptide in the extract of the marine sponge Neopetrosia sp. Its structure was determined as a tripeptide, named neopetromin (1), composed of two tyrosine and one tryptophan residues with a heteroaromatic C−N cross-link between side chains. The absolute configuration of amino acids was determined using Marfey’s method after ozonolysis and hydrolysis of 1. Compound 1 promoted vacuole fragmentation in an actin- independent manner in tobacco BY-2 cells.

Imaging Methods: confocal microscopy

Organisms: Nicotiana tabacum

This dataset comprises an independent Korean cohort of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients collected at Seoul National University Hospital. This cohort comprises patients that have undergone surgical retention with no prior treatment. It includes 300 haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) whole-slide images (WSIs) providing detailed histopathological context, alongside 71 lo-plex immunofluorescence (mIF) WSIs. The mIF panel targets p21, MCM2, and Lamin B1,with Hoechst used as a nuclear counterstain. Additionally, 71 single-plex immunohistochemistry (IHC) images for CD105 (DAB chromogen staining of vasculature) are provided for complementary vascular analyses. All H&E WSIs were acquired using a Zeiss Axio Scan.Z1 scanner at 20× magnification, and automated image analysis of all mIF slides was performed using HALO® software. The principal derived metrics for each tumour are the percentages of p21⁺/MCM2⁻ cells and CD105⁺/p21⁺/MCM2⁻ cells, representing the cell-cycle arrest fractions in tumour and putative endothelial cell populations, respectively. Each case is accompanied by two CSV files containing quantitative metrics (phenotypic proportions and average nuclear/cell parameters), along with a clinical metadata file providing de-identified patient information. The clinical data include recurrence, disease-free survival (DFS), Fuhrman nuclear grade, tumor status, tumor size, lymph node status, tumour necrosis, Leibovich score based on Fuhrman grade (Lscore_Fuhrman), ISUP grade (International Society of Urological Pathology grade), and Leibovich score based on ISUP grade (Lscore_ISUP).

Imaging Methods: bright-field microscopy fluorescence microscopy

Organisms: Homo sapiens

This dataset corresponds to 443 clear-cell and 37 papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cohort of patients from the UK translational arm of the SORCE trial, a phase III randomized study evaluating adjuvant sorafenib versus placebo in renal cancer (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00492258). This multi-center cohort encompasses intermediate- and high-risk RCC cases randomized to receive sorafenib adjuvant therapy (1 or 3 years) or placebo. The image collection comprises tumour samples from 480 patients enrolled in the trial’s UK tissue biobank as part of TRANSORCE. For each patient, a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) primary tumor section was used to generate a whole-slide haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) image, and lo-multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) imaging was performed for 382 cases. The mIF panel included p21^CDKN1a, MCM2, and CD105 (endoglin), together with Hoechst nuclear counterstaining. All H&E whole-slide images (WSIs) were acquired using a Zeiss Axio Scan.Z1 scanner at 40× magnification, and mIF images were acquired on the same platform at 20× magnification. Both image types are provided in CZI format. Automated image analysis was performed on all mIF slides using HALO® software. The principal derived metric for each tumour is the percentage of p21⁺/MCM2⁻ and CD105⁺/p21⁺/MCM2⁻ cells, representing the cell-cycle arrest fraction in tumor and endothelial cells. In total, the dataset includes 480 H&E WSIs and 382 multi-channel mIF WSIs. Also, the dataset includes two CSV files containing quantitative metrics (phenotypic proportions and average nuclear/cell parameters), along with a clinical metadata file providing de-identified patient information. The clinical dataset accompanying this cohort includes the following variables: treatment arm ( A: placebo, B: one year sorafenib, C: three year sorafenib), age at randomization, time from diagnosis to randomization, date of randomization, date of operation, gender, WHO performance status, histology at diagnosis, pathological T stage, regional lymph node status, tumor size, ISUP nuclear grade, presence of tumor necrosis, raw Leibovich score, Leibovich risk group, maximum tumor diameter, disease-free survival status (DFS 0/1) and date, and overall survival status (OS 0/1) and date. All data are released under a CC0 license, enabling unrestricted reuse by the research community.

Imaging Methods: bright-field microscopy fluorescence microscopy

Organisms: Homo sapiens

This entry describes a retrospective cohort of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) patients from Edinburgh (NHS Lothian). A total of 120 archival nephrectomy specimens from patients with no previous treatment were included. Digital whole-slide images are available for all 120 cases stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and for 88 cases stained using multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF). The mIF panel comprised p21^CDKN1A, MCM2, and Lamin B1, with Hoechst nuclear counterstain. All slides were scanned at 20× magnification using a Zeiss Axio Scan.Z1, generating high-resolution bright-field and fluorescence images in CZI format. The dataset includes the H&E and multi-channel mIF images, derived single-cell phenotype tables, and a de-identified clinical data file. Image analysis was performed using HALO® software with AI-assisted nuclear segmentation. For each cell, fluorescence intensities of p21, MCM2, and Lamin B1 were quantified, allowing classification into proliferative (MCM2⁺) or cell-cycle arrested (p21⁺) phenotypes. Output data for each image include the proportion of p21⁺/MCM2⁻ cells and average morphological measurements such as cell and nuclear size. Quantitative results are provided in CSV format. The accompanying clinical metadata file contains pathological stage (pT), recurrence status, Fuhrman nuclear grade, ISUP grade, tumour size, nodal status, presence or absence of necrosis, derived Leibovich scores based on Fuhrman and ISUP grading (Lscore_Fuhrman and Lscore_ISUP), and disease-free survival (DFS). All data in this cohort are released under a CC0 license to permit unrestricted reuse.

Imaging Methods: bright-field microscopy fluorescence microscopy

Organisms: Homo sapiens

This dataset consists of a paired primary–metastatic cohort comprising 62 patients with clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), yielding a total of 124 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour samples. Each patient contributed both a primary and a metastatic sample. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides were prepared for all 124 samples, and multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) was successfully performed for 88 of them where tissue was available for study. The mIF panel targeted key cell-cycle and microenvironmental markers — p21^CDKN1A, MCM2, and CD105 (endoglin) — with nuclear counterstaining using Hoechst 33342. Whole-slide images (WSIs) were captured using a Zeiss Axio Scan.Z1 scanner, generating high-resolution CZI files. The dataset includes all H&E and corresponding multi-channel mIF WSIs, along with derived single-cell phenotype data and de-identified clinical metadata. Quantitative outputs for each slide include the proportions of p21⁺/MCM2⁻ and CD105⁺/p21⁺/MCM2⁺ cells, as well as average cellular and nuclear morphometric parameters. The accompanying clinical CSV file provides patient-level variables including follow-up end date, survival status, follow-up duration, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). This cohort represents advanced-stage cases exhibiting vascular invasion or distant metastases at diagnosis. Ethical approval was granted by the Lothian Regional Ethics Committee (Refs 08/S1101/41 and 10/S1402/33). All images, quantitative data, and metadata are distributed under a CC0 license, allowing unrestricted public reuse.

Imaging Methods: bright-field microscopy fluorescence microscopy

Organisms: Homo sapiens

Protein aggregation is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases and is also observed in the brains of elderly individuals without such conditions, suggesting that aging drives the accumulation of protein aggregates. However, the comprehensive understanding of age-dependent protein aggregates involved in brain aging remains unclear. Here, we investigated proteins that become sarkosyl-insoluble with age and identified hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 2 (HAPLN2), a hyaluronic acid-binding protein of the extracellular matrix at the nodes of Ranvier, as an age-dependent aggregating protein in mouse brains. Elevated hyaluronic acid levels and impaired microglial function reduced the clearance of HAPLN2, leading to its accumulation. HAPLN2 oligomers induced microglial inflammatory responses both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, age-associated HAPLN2 aggregation was also observed in the human cerebellum. These findings suggest that HAPLN2 aggregation results from age-related decline in brain homeostasis and may exacerbate the brain environment by activating microglia. This study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying cerebellar aging and highlights the role of HAPLN2 in age-associated changes in the brain.

Imaging Methods: electron microscopy recorded image

Organisms: Mus musculus Homo sapiens