Hepatic oval cells (HOCs) are recognized as facultative liver progenitor cells that play a role in liver regeneration after acute liver injury. Here, we investigated the in vitro proliferation and differentiation characteristics of HOCs in order to explore their potential capacity for intrahepatic transplantation. Clusters or scattered HOCs were detected in the portal area and interlobular bile duct in the liver of rats subjected to the modified 2-acetylaminofluorene and partial hepatectomy method. Isolated HOCs were positive for c-kit and CD90 staining (99.8% and 88.8%, respectively), and negative for CD34 staining (3.6%) as shown by immunostaining and flow cytometric analysis. In addition, HOCs could be differentiated into hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells after leukemia inhibitory factor deprivation. A two-cuff technique was used for orthotopic liver transplantation, and HOCs were subsequently transplanted into recipients. Biochemical indicators of liver function were assessed 4 weeks after transplantation. HOC transplantation significantly prolonged the median survival time and improved the liver function of rats receiving HOCs compared to controls (P=0.003, Student t-test). Administration of HOCs to rats also receiving liver transplantation significantly reduced acute allograft rejection compared to control liver transplant rats 3 weeks following transplantation (rejection activity index score: control=6.3±0.9; HOC=3.5±1.5; P=0.005). These results indicate that HOCs may be useful in therapeutic liver regeneration after orthotopic liver transplantation.

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A light wavelength affects both plant photomorphogenesis and stress resistance. In this study, the phenotypic plasticity (growth parameters and cuticular waxes) and physiological adaptation (photosynthetic properties and antioxidant enzyme activities) of faba bean subjected to specific LED lights, red, yellow, blue, violet, and white, were analyzed under two water conditions (normal and drought). The plants grown under red and yellow lights possessed the smaller leaf size and the higher leaf relative water content. The blue light had a positive effect on improving stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate of faba bean leaves, and the plants grown under the blue light also had higher antioxidant enzyme activities. The blue light also changed the dominant wax component to alkanes and significantly decreased a total wax load under the drought stress, and thus minimized the cuticle transpiration (water loss). The decreased wax deposition and the increase of C31-C33 alkanes abundance in plants grown under the yellow light also resulted in a lower leaf water loss under the drought stress. The red light increased but the violet light did not change the cuticle water loss. These results suggest that plant drought tolerance could be improved by supplementing the blue and yellow lights.