Fig. 2

Hepatic stem cell niche emerges with the recruitment of hepatic stellate cells. a Dual staining of laminin and CK19 showed an expanding laminin sheath surrounding in the CK19⁺ periportal area during liver regeneration (weeks 0, 1, 2, and 4). b Localization of hepatic stellate cells was examined by co-staining of desmin and CK19. The dotted area (middle image) represents the periportal area enriched with CK19⁺ cells. c Statistical analysis of the percentage of desmin⁺ cells localized in the CK19⁺ region from week 0 to 4 (n = 4). Nuclei were stained with DAPI. Scale bar, 100 μm. Data are shown as means ± SD. ^*P < 0.05. PV, portal vein; U.D., undetectable