The identity of an oval cell specific GFAP signal was subsequently further verified by examining liver tissue of transgenic mice that express Cre-recombinase driven by a GFAP-promoter (GFAP-Cre-mouse). Because Cre-recombinase (Cre) is a recombinant protein, any cross reactivity with antibodies directed against endogenous mouse protein is prevented. Its nuclear localization allows a clear discrimination of cell types. Erastin mouse We detected Cre-positive biliary cells in untreated mice and Cre-positive biliary cells

and oval cells in CDE treated GFAP-Cre-mice (Figure 3B, B’). Figure 3 Zonal differences of GFAP and GFAP-reporter expression in control and CDE treated mice in contrast

to alpha-smooth muscle actin. Immunohistochemistry of GFAP in liver sections of control (A) and CDE treated mice (A’). In B and B’ the reporter enzyme Cre-recombinase has a nuclear localisation and was therefore used to demonstrate GFAP-promoter activity in CDE treated mice (B’) compared to controls (B). HSCs are identifiable by their long, slender GFAP positive appendages. Biliary cells (black selleck screening library arrows) are also decorated with GFAP respectively express the Cre reporter. Under CDE conditions a third cell type, oval cells (brown, white arrows), express GFAP. The expression buy Temozolomide pattern of GFAP and GFAP-reporter in the periportal region of liver lobulus (A’, B’) is completely different from that in the pericentral region (D), (Cre in pericentral region is not shown, because there was no staining). Oval cell clusters, identifiable by their ductular formation, are surrounded by alpha-smooth muscle positive cells (C). The immunohistological examination of livers of CDE treated mice relative to the other markers listed in Table 3 shows that Kupffer Tau-protein kinase cells (positively stained by anti-F4/80-antibody), vimentin-, PECAM (CD31)- and nestin-positive cells expand in addition to GFAP-positive cells in CDE liver sections (additional

File 4). To exclude a misinterpretation due to the mixed genetic background of the mice used in our study, we also included paraffin embedded tissue of a former CDE study using C57Bl/6 mice [5] and confirmed our results (data not shown). Oval cells, HSCs and Kupffer cells proliferate due to CDE diet and likewise rapidly growing liver related cell lines express M2-Pk M2-Pk is commonly known to elevate in rapidly growing cells. Firstly, we tested the proliferative state of distinct sinusoidal cell populations by double labelling experiments combining BrdU-staining with biomarker staining in liver sections of CDE treated mice (Figure 4). BrdU positive cells occur in clusters pointing to clonal expansion.