Early activated hepatic stellate cell-derived molecules reverse acute hepatic injury

Figure 1 Morphological features and α-SMA expression of cultured hepatic stellate cells during the activation process. Primary hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were maintained on uncoated plastic dishes. HSCs presented a star-shaped appearance with fewer and smaller lipid droplets in the cytoplasm after primary culture for five days, and began to express α-SMA at non-uniform levels between cells. Subcultured HSCs evolved into myofibroblast-like cells without lipid droplets in the cytoplasm and expressed a uniform and higher level of α-SMA. Red: desmin; green: α-SMA; blue: nucleus (DAPI). Merged images are also shown. White arrows point to HSCs expressing high level of α-SMA. Bar = 100 μm.