Figure 6

Detection of HBV antigens in mouse heart tissues. Two weeks after cell transplantation, hearts were harvested, immunostained with anti-HBcAg (A, C, and E) and anti-HBsAg (B and D). Myocardial interstitium (A-D) and intra-myocardial capillaries (E) in the peri-infarct area were shown. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of heart tissue after 2 weeks MI-induction revealed a clear infract area (F). Magnification for panels B and D, × 800; for panels A, C and E, × 400; and for panel F, × 40. In addition, hearts were double immunostained with HBcAg (G and I) and human HLA-ABC (H and J) 3 weeks after cell transplantation as described in "Materials and Methods". Intra-myocardial capillaries in the peri-infarct area were shown. Magnification × 400. Mice transplantated either with mock-treated EPCs (A, B, G, and H) or with HBV-treated EPCs (C-E, I and J) were indicated. Results are representative of at least three independent experiments.