Fig. 3

EGF, FGF2, retinol, palmitic acid, and oleic acid restore a reversible, quiescent-like phenotype in culture activated human primary HSCs. a Light microscopic and Oil Red O staining images of aHSCs and rHSCs. b FACS detection and microscopic image of the intrinsic fluorescence (at a wavelength of ~328 nm) of all-trans retinyl esters in UV-excited aHSCs and rHSCs. The arrows highlight the intrinsic fluorescent signal of retinyl esters inside the cytoplasmic lipid droplets. c The reversibility of the RM-induced downregulation of ACTA2, COL1A1, and LOX was assessed by washing the cells after a 5-day incubation period, followed by an additional 2-day culture in the presence or absence of recombinant human TGFβ (10 ng/mL), in FBS-free medium. The expression levels are presented as relative fold change to rHSCs. The results presented are from three to five different donors. In the graphs, the results are displayed as means ± SEM. ns not significant, p ≥ 0.05, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01