Figure 4.

Purinergic profiles of human CD133⁺ HSCs. A, mRNA expression of ectonucleotidases and ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatases/ phosphodiesterases, purinergic P2X, P2Y, and P1 receptors by human HSCs relative to β-actin (real-time reverse transciptase-polymerase chain reaction). B, Proportion of human blood HSCs (defined as % HSCs of peripheral blood mononuclear cells) 48 hours, 4 and 21 days after partial hepatectomy relative to levels before resection. Extent of liver resection was measured by computerized tomography-volumetry and defined as major liver resection (>30% of total liver volume; n=6) and minor liver resection (<20% of total liver volume; n = 18). C, Correlation of HSC blood levels 24 hours after partial hepatectomy with the indocyanine green retention rate (15%) on postoperative day 21 (n = 13). D, Correlation of HSCs in the blood 24 hours after major hepatectomy (>30% of total liver volume) with reconstituted liver volume on postoperative day 21 (n = 6). E, CD39 expression by HSCs in the blood of patients after major liver resections (n = 5, >30% of total liver volume), gastrointestinal, that is, extrahepatic surgery (n = 5), or of healthy controls (n = 14). Data presented as CD39-positive to CD39-null ratio. Error bars represent standard error of mean. *P < 0.05, †P < 0.01, ‡P < 0.001.