Fig. 2

Bex1 deficiency reduces LPC expansion and liver regeneration in response to CDE diet. a Expression of Bex1 in liver tissues of 3-week chow and CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/− mice measured by real-time PCR (mean ± SEM, n = 5, **P < 0.01, Mann–Whitney U test). b, c Histologic specimens of liver tissues from 3-week chow and CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/− mice stained with H&E and Oil Red O. Scale bars, 100 μm. d Serum ALT levels of 3-week chow and CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/− mice (mean ± SEM, n = 5, **P < 0.01, Mann–Whitney U test). e Expression of Epcam, Afp and Prom1 in liver tissues of 3-week chow and CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/− mice measured by real-time PCR (mean ± SEM, n = 5, **P < 0.01, Mann–Whitney U test). f IF staining of EpCAM (red) in liver tissues of 3-week chow or CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/− mice. Results representative of three independent experiments with similar results. Scale bars, 50 μm. g IF staining of EpCAM (red) and Ki67 (green) in liver tissues of 3-week chow and CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/−mice. Scale bars, 50 μm. Quantification of Ki67⁺ EPCAM⁺ cells (mean ± SEM, n = 5, *P < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). h Expression of Myc and Cdkn1a in liver tissues of 3-week chow and CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/− mice measured by real-time PCR (mean ± SEM, n = 4, *P < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). i Immunoblotting analysis of CDKN1A expression in liver tissues of 3-week chow or CDE diet-fed WT and Bex1^−/− mice. Quantifying densitometry of bands using ImageJ software (mean ± SEM, n = 4, *P < 0.05, Mann–Whitney U test). AFP α-fetoprotein, ALT alanine aminotransferase, BEX1 brain-expressed X-linked 1, CDE choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented, EpCAM epithelial cell adhesion molecule, PROM1 prominin-1, PV portal vein, WT wild-type