Figure 1

Cultured and Labelled mesenchymal stem cells morphology by light microscope without superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeling (x40) (A) and with SPIO labeling after staining with Prussian blue (x40) (B). Transmission electron microscopic examination (C) x5600 & (D) x11000, showing labeled cells with iron particles appear as black aggregates among numerous round endosomes within the cytoplasm (arrows). The nucleus (N) is convoluted, with prominent euchromatin and peripheral heterochromatin, a conspicuous nucleolus (Nu) is also seen. Homing of the SPIO-labelled transplanted MSCs into their niche evident by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining (E) & Prussian blue staining (F) of the recipient liver where IHC using the anti-OxPhos complex IV subunit I monoclonal antibody showing areas that were negative for cytochrome C oxidase located either in close proximity to, or in direct contact with, the portal tract region (arrows; X40 magnification). Prussian blue staining showing bluish iron particles distributed intracellularly in the same region as the cytochrome C oxidase-deficient patches (arrows; X40 magnification). Successful macrophage depletion from the liver shown by IHC, the normal distribution of Kupffer cells is evident in nondepleted liver (G) with significant reduction after using clodronate liposome with very few positive anti f4/80 ab cells in the hepatic parynchyma x40 (H). (I) Comparison between all fibrosis and all cirrhotic groups regarding fibrosis level and TGFb1 level (J) The correlation between αSMA expression and the fibrosis grade after MSC transplantation. As shown, no correlation could be detected.