The Characteristics Variation of Hepatic Progenitors after TGF-β1-Induced Transition and EGF-Induced Reversion

Figure 3

Seven-day EGF incubation restores the proliferation capacity of hepatic oval cells, which could be inhibited by TGF-β1. (a) Sixteen-day TGF-β1 incubation significantly reduced Ki-67 positive rate of hepatic oval cells; 7-day EGF incubation of 16-day TGF-β1-pretreated cells returned the Ki-67 positive rate to levels comparable to control cells. (b) Cell-cycle analysis by PI staining further demonstrated the rescue effects of 7-day EGF incubation on cell proliferation of 16-day TGF-β1-pretreated cells. (c) Real-time PCR analysis showed that 16-day TGF-β1 incubation reduced cyclin D and PCNA transcription, while 7-day EGF reversion could increase the mRNA transcription of cyclin D and PCNA to the level of control cells.

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