Fig. 7. Repopulation of tet-uPA Rag2–/– Il2rg–/– mouse livers with HLCs.
a Schematic outline of HLC transplantation into the livers of Tet-uPA Rag2–/– Il2rg–/– mice. Doxycycline (Dox) was injected into mouse abdomens 12 h before cell transplantation. Dox was administered through drinking water after cell transplantation. HLCs (2 × 106 cells, n = 5), PHHs (2 × 106 cells, n = 5) or PBS (n = 5) as the control were intrasplenically transplanted into mice. Animals were monitored daily and sacrificed 7 weeks after transplantation. b Human albumin levels in mouse serum were monitored weekly by ELISA. c, d Serum levels of ALT and AST were determined at 7 weeks following transplantation in mouse serum among the control (n = 4), HLC (n = 5), and PHH (n = 5) groups. e The integration of HLCs and PHH cells in URG mouse livers were determined by immunostaining for human CK18 in serial sections. f, g Expression levels of the human hepatocyte-specific gene ALU in the liver tissues from HLC- and PHH-transplanted URG mice (HLC, n = 5; PHH, n = 5) and control mice (n = 4). The values were normalized to total (mouse plus human) levels of ACTIN. *p < 0.05. Data are represented as the mean ± SD. For ×20 magnification, the scale bar represents 200 µm; and for ×40 magnification, the scale bar represents 100 µm.