Quantification and function characterization of transplanted stem cells in the mouse livers.

<p>(A) Quantitative real-time PCR measurement of engrafted human stem cell in the host liver. The ratios between human genome vs host genome in mouse livers of Gal/LPS- group was 12.6-fold of that of Vehicle-hUCMSCs group (<i>p</i><0.05), and a 10.8-fold difference was demonstrated between Gal/LPS- and Vehicle-i-Hep group (<i>p</i><0.05), respectively. Data were expressed as means ± SEM (n = 3–7). Representative images of (B) hCK-18- and (C) hAFP-positive cells in host livers. Immunohistological staining with individual antibodies against human epitopes. 200x. (D) Expression level of selective human genes in mouse liver was quantified by measuring the intensity of hCK-18- and (E) hAFP-positive cells in liver sections. Data were analyzed with ImageJ software and expressed as means ± SEM. Different superscript letters (e.g. a vs. b, or b vs. c) represent a statistically significant difference (<i>p</i><0.05) between two variables.