Activin A, p15INK4b signaling, and cell competition promote stem/progenitor cell repopulation of livers in aging rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Highly proliferative fetal liver stem/progenitor cells (FLSPCs) repopulate livers of normal recipients by cell competition. We investigated the mechanisms by which FLSPCs repopulate livers of older compared with younger rats.

Methods

Fetal liver cells were transplanted from DPPIV(+) F344 rats into DPPIV(-) rats of different ages (2, 6, 14, or 18 months); liver tissues were analyzed 6 months later. Cultured cells and liver tissues were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunoblot, histochemistry, laser-capture microscopy, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labeling analyses.

Results

We observed 4- to 5-fold increases in liver repopulation when FLSPCs were transplanted into o

SUBMITTER: Menthena A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3087123 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature