FIG. 4.

ECM treatment results in a greater number of Sox2+ cells at the site of amputation. (A) After digit amputation and treatment with ECM degradation products or control, digits were fixed at various time points postamputation, sectioned for histologic analysis, and immunolabeled for the presence of Sox2. A greater number of Sox2+ cells were observed at the site of amputation on days 10, 14, and 18 postamputation. (B) After microdissection and dissociation of the cell accumulation at the site of amputation, Sox2+ cell expression was confirmed by immunolabeling of cells cytospun on to a slide. (C) Flow cytometric analysis of the isolated cells showed that Sox2+ cells coexpressed Sca1 and CD90, but not CD133 or c-kit. *p<0.05. Error bars are mean±SEM (n=4 for each group). Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea