Figure 4.

Re-endothelialization of decellularized and heparin-modified decellularized liver using EA.hy926 cells for 7 days. (A,B) H&E and DAPI staining of the heparinized re-endothelialized scaffold shows more ECs adhered to the vessels (black arrows) while ECs escaped to the parenchyma and obstructed vessel lumen (yellow stars) in case of endothelialized scaffold (control) (scale bar = 100 μm). (C) Significantly higher percentage of endothelialized vessels per field was observed in heparinized re-endothelialized scaffold from different five lobes, n = 3 field/slide, * p < 0.05. (D) IHC staining of ECs with CD31 antibody. (E) Ki-67 staining confirms EC proliferation after cell seeding into the scaffolds. (scale bar = 100 μm) (F) TUNEL assay shows fewer numbers of apoptotic cells in heparinized group than control (white arrow indicates the apoptotic cells) (scale bar = 100 μm).