Fig. 4: MYDGF enhances cell proliferation in human hepatocyte organoids.

a Schematic illustration of growing 3D organoids from human hepatocytes. Hepatocytes isolated from human liver were cultured in cell culture plates with low adhesion. After 3 days, organoids were formed, which could subsequently be treated with recombinant myeloid-derived growth factor (MYDGF). Representative laser scanning microscopy (LSM) images (maximum intensity projections) of human hepatocyte organoids treated daily without (b) or with (c) recombinant MYDGF. Proliferating cells were stained for 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU, green) and cell nuclei counterstained for DAPI (blue). Quantification of human organoid area (d) and proliferating human hepatocytes per well (e) in control- versus MYDGF-treated human hepatocyte organoids. n = 7 versus n = 8 wells with 5 organoids each. Representative LSM images (maximum intensity projections) of human hepatocyte organoids treated daily without (f) or with (g) recombinant MYDGF. Proliferating cells were stained for EdU (green) and cell nuclei counterstained for DAPI (blue). Quantification of human organoid area (h) and proliferating human hepatocytes per well (i) in control-versus MYDGF-treated human hepatocyte organoids. n = 8 wells with 5 organoids each (h) and n = 7 versus n = 8 wells with 5 organoids each (i). Donors: male, 23 years (b–e), and female, 26 years (f–i). Scale bar: 50 µm (c, g). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. P values were calculated using two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-test with Welch’s correction. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.