HGF, SDF-1, and MMP-9 are involved in stress-induced human CD34⁺ stem cell recruitment to the liver
J. Clin. Invest. Orit Kollet, et al. 112:160 doi:10.1172/JCI17902 [Go to this article.]

Figure 3
Hepatic differentiation of human albumin–producing cells within the liver of transplanted NOD/SCID mice. (a) Detection of human albumin (Alb) mRNA by RT-PCR using human albumin–specific oligonucleotides and mouse dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV-specific) oligonucleotides as an internal control. (–), no RNA included; H, human liver RNA; M, RNA from a control, nontransplanted mouse liver; lanes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, RNA from the liver of mice transplanted with human CB CD34⁺ enriched cells. (b) Detection of human albumin by Western blot in the liver of NOD/SCID mice engrafted with human CD34⁺ CB cells using a mouse mAb specific for human albumin. Shown are a control human liver protein extract (H), liver protein extract from a control nontransplanted mouse (M), and extract from three mice transplanted with human CB CD34⁺ cells (lanes 1, 2, and 3). (c and d) Sections of formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissue analyzed for detection of human albumin using human albumin–specific mAb. (e and f) Sections of frozen liver stained for human albumin, as described in c and d, counterstained with hematoxylin (e) and not counterstained (f). Individual cells (c and d) and small to medium-sized clusters of cells (e and f) with the morphologic appearance of hepatocytes and expressing human albumin were present in the liver of NOD/SCID mice transplanted with human CB CD34⁺ cells, but not in the liver of control, nontransplanted NOD/SCID mice (data not shown). Original magnification: c, ×200; d, ×100; e and f, ×400.