FIGURE 5.

Effect of male and female liver HS on the growth of hMSC. Cells were cultured for 7 days in normal maintenance medium in the presence of different concentrations (12.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.312, or 0.156 μg/ml) of male liver HS (A) and female liver HS (B). Viable cell counts were determined at days 1, 3, 5, and 7. C, the importance of FGFR signaling for HS activity was investigated by supplementing serum-starved subconfluence cultures with male or female HS (2.5 μg/ml) or FGF2 (2.5 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of an FGFR1 inhibitor (SU5402 at 20 μm) for 60 min. Total protein was extracted for Western blotting and first probed for activated ERK1/2 expression (pERK1/2). Membranes were then striped and reprobed with anti-ERK1/2 antibody. D, the amount of pERK1/2 protein was determined by densitometry. E, cells were cultured for 5 days with male HS (2.5 μg/ml) or FGF2 (2.5 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of an FGFR1 inhibitor (SU5402 at 20 μm). Error bars, ± S.E.