Global DNA demethylation during early HSC activation is due to an active mechanism.

<p>(A) BrdU assay during HSC culture showed that DNA synthesis in HSC was absent during the first two days of culture. (B) In line with this, the Ki67 western blot revealed that freshly isolated HSC were in the G0-phase and entered the cell cycle at the third day of culture. (C) L-mimosine treated HSC showed global DNA demethylation during culture with no significant difference to control treated cells (n = 3 independent experiments). Thus DNA demethylation was independent of DNA synthesis implicating an active mechanism. Global DNA methylation was determined by a 5meC ELISA.