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Ushio-Fukai and Dr. Tohru Fukai reported in Nature Cell Biology that ROS rapidly modifies CTR1, a cell surface receptor that usually allows essential mineral copper to enter the interior, where its tasks include aiding angiogenesis. Modification of CTR1 prompts it to bind to the VEGF receptor, VEGFR2, also on the cell surface, and the united pair dives inside. This movement enables the sustained VEGFR2 signaling that is essential for making new blood vessels. The researchers also have evidence that Drp1 is also modified by ROS, prompting it to move from a passive state in the fluid part of the cell, or cytosol, to the mitochondria where it still promotes fission, which also produces the powerful hydrogen peroxide ROS. She says that active mitochondria are high users of oxygen and therefore, like NADPH oxidase, high producers of ROS in endothelial cells. The researchers showed that the ROS generated by mitochondria in turn activates AMPK, a key enzyme for regulating energy levels in cells and known to use glucose to rapidly generate enough energy to support important biological work such as making new blood vessels. 

Chinese scientists have successfully implanted a 3D printed blood vessel into rhesus monkeys, which could pave the way for printing human organs for transplants. An estimated 1.8 billion people affected with cardiovascular disease can benefit from this medical breakthrough. 

Chinese scientists have successfully implanted 3D printed blood vessels made from stem cells into rhesus monkeys, marking an important step towards printing blood vessels and other organs for human transplants.