SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis Promotes MSCs to Repair Liver Injury Partially through Trans-Differentiation and Fusion with Hepatocytes

Figure 4

The CXCL12-CXCR4 axis plays an important role in the chemotaxis of MSCs. (a-b) ELISA was used to detect SDF-1 and CXCR4 protein levels in the damaged liver tissue at different times after injury. The data are the mean ± SEM from three independent experiments (^* compared with day 0). (c-d) 1 × 10⁶ MSCs were preincubated with 17-AAG (SDF-1 inhibitor, 20 ng/mL) or PBS for 30 min and injected into the tail veins of bone marrow-destroyed female C57BL/6 mice. Then, liver damage was induced in the mice, and tissue sections were collected 21 days after injury. (c) IF was used to detect ALB-positive cells, and FISH was used to identify the Y chromosome-positive cells. Bar: 75 μm. Arrow was directed to the double positive cells. (d) Both ALB- and FISH-positive cells were counted. All the experiments were repeated three times, at least 3 samples were included in each group.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)