Figure 3.

Concentration and localization of SDF-1/CXCL12 in NEC patients. The SDF-1/CXCL12 concentration in the plasma (A) and peritoneal lavage (B) as indicated within the figures in NEC patients, patients who required resection for noninflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and normal subjects. (C) Immunolocalization of SDF-1/CXCL12 in patients with NEC and noninflammatory gastrointestinal tracts. Representative photomicrographs of immunohistochemical staining performed with the CXCL12 antibody in tissue sections. Bar = 50 μm. A strong immunoreactive protein was observed in NEC and was found primarily at the apex of the enterocytes, whereas no or weak staining was detected in the normal intestinal tissues, as exemplified in (C). All sections were counterstained with hematoxylin. Original magnification 400x. CXCL12 = C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12.