We used these data to illustrate the risk of flawed inference whe

We used these data to illustrate the risk of flawed inference when transience is not properly accounted for in abundance estimation of resident populations. Transients are commonly defined as individuals Palbociclib mouse that pass through the sampling area once, i.e., have a null probability of being caught

again, and therefore induce heterogeneity in the detection process. The presence of transients can lead to severe bias in the estimation of abundance and we demonstrate how to correct for this feature when estimating abundance of resident populations. In New Caledonia, very different conclusions about the number of resident whales in the southern lagoon between 1999 and 2005 are obtained when the abundance estimate accounts for the transient whales. Without correction, the estimates of the Ceritinib order abundance were up to twice as high across all years compared to the estimates of the resident population when a correction for transients had been incorporated. Having reliable population estimates when assessing the status of endangered species is essential in documenting recovery and monitoring of population trends. Therefore, we encourage researchers to account for transients when reporting abundances of resident populations. “
“In killer whales or orcas (Orcinus orca) vocal matching appears to be an important aspect of within-group communication, but fish-eating “resident”

orcas frequently associate with whales that share little or none of their repertoire. The production of calls belonging to another group’s repertoire would allow vocal matching in such contexts and has been observed in captive and free-living orcas. However, reports were largely descriptive and neither structure nor usage of such “resemblance calls” http://www.selleck.co.jp/products/Temsirolimus.html have been investigated in detail. We analyzed resemblance calls in free-living orcas when groups known to produce the respective call types were absent. In this context, they made

up only 0.2% of the recorded calls. Time and frequency parameters of resemblance calls differed significantly from the “original” calls, and the accuracy of the resemblance calls ranged from rough renditions of a call type to the resemblance of call subtypes. Our results show that call sharing across vocal clans occurs in orcas but is rare and that shared calls are structurally distinguishable from original call types in the absence of the groups originally producing the calls. We discuss whether this call sharing represents cases of vocal imitation as suggested by previous, qualitative reports. “
“Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) belong to the class of marine mammals known as rorquals that feed through extraordinarily energetic lunges during which they engulf large volumes of water equal to as much as 70% of their body mass.

Caulerpa mexicana Sond ex Kütz is a siphonous tropical marine g

Caulerpa mexicana Sond. ex Kütz. is a siphonous tropical marine green alga characterized by four morphologically distinct regions and, as with other members of the genus, by the presence of a dense network of anastomosing cylindrical cell wall in growths called trabeculae. Based on the results of this study, we propose several roles for trabeculae: (i) They are structural components, which likely add some small amount of support in compression but add considerable strength in tension. (ii) As extensions of the cell wall and plasma membrane, they act as diffusion

channels from the cell exterior to the interior cytoplasm. It is possible that trabeculae also play a role in determining cell shape through Cabozantinib price developmental positioning and placement patterns, thus facilitating the diverse shapes found in the morphologically distinct regions of Caulerpa sp. “
“Marine and freshwater phytoplankton populations often show large clonal diversity, which is in disagreement with clonal selection of the most vigorous genotype(s). Temporal fluctuation in selection pressures in variable environments is a leading explanation for maintenance of such genetic diversity. To test the influence of temperature as a selection force in continually (seasonally) changing aquatic systems we carried out reaction norms experiments on co-occurring clonal genotypes of a ubiquitous diatom species, Asterionella formosa Hassall, across an environmentally

relevant range of temperatures. We report within population genetic diversity and extensive diversity

in genotype-specific reaction norms in growth rates Doxorubicin cost and cell size traits. Our results showed genotype by environment interactions, indicating that no genotype could outgrow all others across all temperature environments. Subsequently, we constructed a model to simulate the relative proportion of each genotype in a hypothetical population based on genotype and temperature-specific population growth rates. This model not was run with different seasonal temperature patterns. Our modeling exercise showed a succession of two to several genotypes becoming numerically dominant depending on the underlying temperature pattern. The results suggest that (temperature) context dependent fitness may contribute to the maintenance of genetic diversity in isolated populations of clonally reproducing microorganisms in temporally variable environments. “
“The benthic recruitment of Microcystis was simulated in vitro in order to characterize the colonies of Microcystis recruited and to study the impact of intracellular and extracellular microcystins (MCs), and the influence of colony size on the recruitment process. We observed recruitment dynamics consisting of a lag phase followed by a peak and then a return to low recruitment rates, mainly controlled by passive resuspension throughout the experiment, and by physiological processes during the recruitment peak.

This sparse lifestyle was important because we earned only $600 p

This sparse lifestyle was important because we earned only $600 per year in those days.

Fifty dollars a month doesn’t go far, but if room and board is free and one doesn’t smoke, it sufficed. There wasn’t much time for “nights out on the town,” and my greatest entertainment pleasure was watching weekly episodes of the original Untouchables. Because I lived in the staff house, I was not overly concerned when an early October Rochester blizzard buried my car in snow. I became more concerned when, 5 months later, it was still buried, and, in truth, my car was not thawed and extricated until mid-May. Such was life in Rochester, but I would do it all over again exactly the same way. It was in my first-year residency at Strong Memorial that I received a letter that would change U0126 in vivo the course of my life. Erlotinib concentration It was from the U.S. government and began with the terrorizing word, “Greetings.” This was in 1961 and was the long-dreaded letter from my draft board. In late summer 1961, there was a crisis in Berlin and a shortage of doctors in the military. Residents all over the country were being called to duty. I still have that draft letter today. Notable

was the fact that I was to report to Fort Dix, New Jersey, on November 30; attached to the letter was a subway token that somehow was supposed to get me there. I still haven’t figured out that subway route. I did not expect to be drafted because I had already applied to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and had been accepted.

However, I had not yet been assigned a position or commissioned in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). I had applied to the NIH not because I planned a career in research, but because that was the best, and most sought after, venue for anyone who even remotely considered entering academic medicine. The draft letter initiated a series of frantic conversations with the chiefs of medicine and hematology at Strong Memorial and of a call to the USPHS. The latter informed me that if I could find a position at the NIH, receive my PHS commission, and report to the NIH before I was supposed to report to Fort Dix, the PHS would have supremacy over the army when it came to possessing my body. Fortunately, Scott Swisher, the chief of hematology and a favorite teacher and mentor, had close ties with the Division of Biologic Standards (DBS), which later was incorporated into the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Scott pulled strings, and I attached myself to those strings and arrived at DBS three days before I was to report to Fort Dix. I thus became a member of the “Yellow Berets,” a cadre of draft-dodging physicians whose primary military function was to protect the NIH campus from invasion by Johns Hopkins. The two pathways I faced were highly divergent. An assignment to the army would almost invariably have been followed by a career in private practice, which fit well with my plans since late childhood.

While the molecular mechanism for this effect remains poorly unde

While the molecular mechanism for this effect remains poorly understood, the results unambiguously reveal that cells grown on ammonium Ensartinib datasheet are able to direct more reductant to lipids. This analysis suggests that when cells are grown with a reduced

nitrogen source, fatty acid biosynthesis can effectively become a sink for excess absorbed light, compensating for the absence of energetically demanding nitrate assimilation reactions. Our data further suggest that optimal lipid production efficiency is achieved when cells are in exponential growth, when nitrate assimilation is inhibited, and ammonium is the sole nitrogen source. “
“Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China Porphyra haitanensis (T. J. Chang & B. F. Zheng)

is an important economic alga found off the southern coast of China. It has evolved a strong tolerance against stress, which is an important survival characteristic. Cyclophilin has been shown to be involved in the stress response of plants and algae. To investigate the tolerance against stress in Porphyra, we isolated selleck kinase inhibitor the cyclophilin PhCYP18 gene (Accession number JQ413239) and measured its expression over different generations and stress conditions. In P. haitanensis, cyclophilin PhCYP18 accumulated more in the filamentous sporophyte generation than in the blade gametophyte generation. This difference many was

thought to be due to harsh environments and a gene dosage effect. It has been found, however, that PhCYP18 expression was dysregulated in blades under high salt stress, strong irradiance stress and multifactorial stress compared to blades under normal conditions. Moreover, the changes were not linearly related to the degree of stress. It was therefore thought that PhCYP18 actively responded to stress situations and induced strong stress tolerance, which is evident in P. haitanensis. “
“Analysis of microbial biodiversity is hampered by a lack of reference genomes from most bacteria, viruses, and algae. This necessitates either the cultivation of a restricted number of species for standard sequencing projects or the analysis of highly complex environmental DNA metagenome data. Single-cell genomics (SCG) offers a solution to this problem by constraining the studied DNA sample to an individual cell and its associated symbionts, prey, and pathogens. We used SCG to study marine heterotrophic amoebae related to Paulinella ovalis (A. Wulff) P.W. Johnson, P.E. Hargraves & J.M. Sieburth (Rhizaria). The genus Paulinella is best known for its photosynthetic members such as P.

Novel proteins identified by proteomic technology and genetic pol

Novel proteins identified by proteomic technology and genetic polymorphisms from genome association studies offer the possibility for further refinement and individualization of biomarker fibrosis models in the future. “
“Aim:  Recent studies have suggested that increased α-smooth muscle-actin

positive myofibroblastic cells (α-SMA positive CAF) in the desmoplastic stroma may relate to a more aggressive cancer and worse survival outcomes for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients. To facilitate investigating cellular and molecular interactions between α-SMA positive CAF and cholangiocarcinoma cells related to ICC progression, we developed a novel 3-D organotypic culture model of cholangiocarcinoma that more accurately mimics the stromal microenvironment, gene expression profile and select pathophysiological characteristics Epigenetics inhibitor of desmoplastic ICC in vivo. Methods:  This unique model was established by co-culturing within a type I collagen gel matrix, a strain of Fulvestrant cholangiocarcinoma cells (derived from an ICC formed in syngeneic rat liver following bile duct inoculation of spontaneously-transformed rat cholangiocytes) with varying numbers of clonal α-SMA positive CAF established from the same tumor type. Results:  Cholangiocarcinoma cells and α-SMA positive CAF in

monoculture each exhibited cell-specific biomarker gene expression profiles characteristic of stromal much myofibroblastic cell versus malignant cholangiocyte cell types. In comparison, the gene expression profile and histopathological characteristics exhibited by the organotypic co-culture closely resembled those of whole tissue samples of the parent orthotopic ICC. We further showed α-SMA positive CAF to significantly enhance cholangiocarcinoma cell “ductal-like” growth

and cancer cell migration/invasiveness in vitro, as well as to promote upregulated expression of select genes known to be associated with ICC invasion. Conclusion:  This novel organotypic model provides an important new resource for studying the effects of microenvironment on cholangiocarcinoma progression in vitro and may have potential as a preclinical model for identifying molecularly targeted therapies. “
“The natural course of HCV infection remains controversial. The German HCV (1b)-contaminated anti-D cohort provides an ideal population to investigate the natural course of HCV infection in a large, homogenous cohort of young women from the date of HCV inoculation. Our previous follow-up studies at 20 and 25 years after infection suggested slow fibrosis progression rates in this unique cohort. The aim of our prospective, community-based, multicenter study was to reevaluate the liver disease progression in 718 patients of the original anti-D cohort at 35 years after infection.

Adams, Alberto Quaglia, Charalambos G Antoniades Background: HLH

Adams, Alberto Quaglia, Charalambos G. Antoniades Background: HLH is frequently fatal (overall mortality

>50%) and is often underdiagnosed. It involves a final common pathway of hypercytokinemia. A timely diagnosis is imperative to facilitate immunosuppressive therapy and decrease mortality. HLH presenting as severe acute hepatitis or ACLF is extremely rare and is not well recognized. We present our experience of HLH in patients presenting with severe acute hepatic insult/ liver failure. Patients and Methods: Retrospective analysis of admitted patients Palbociclib in vitro with systemic inflammatory response fulfilling diagnostic HLH criteria (> 5/8).[Henter et al, 2004] Results Seventeen patients [M: F -14:3; Adults: Child- 14:3; median age- 26 years (range-1 m to 66 yrs] were diagnosed with acquired HLH at our hospital from

year 2010 to 2012. Twelve (70.6%) patients presented clinically as ACLF (n=7) and severe acute hepatitis ( n=5) at admission. Viral associated HLH (8 patients; 47.1%) was most common (HAV-3, HEV-2, EBV-1, Dengue-1, Parvovirus-1). Although, etiology remained undiag-nosed in 7(41.2%) patients, rare presentations included lym-phomatous infiltration of liver (1) & visceral leishmaniasis (1). While fever [16 patients (94.2%); median duration- 30days (4-90 days)] and jaundice [14 patients; mean bilirubin-20.34 ± 8.6mg/dl] were most common presentations, clinical signs such as presence of enlarged liver (76.4%), spleen (76.4%) and ascites (58.8%) were most frequent. Five Cell Cycle inhibitor patients also had AKI (serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dl) at admission. Important biochemical parameters included hyperferritinemia [all patients; mean- 16,064.7 ±7,652 ng/ml], hypertriglyceridemia (10 patients; mean-355 ± 145 mg/dl), raised LDH(mean- 2,953 ± 726 IU/L) and low fibrinogen (12 patients; mean-146.1 ± 32.4 mcg/L) levels. The mean plasma haemoglobin was 8.08 ± 1.33 g/L and total leucocyte count was 2.1

x 103 /cu mm. Bone marrow aspiration was done in 12 patients; 11 of which showed the presence of hemophagocytosed histiocytes. Ten (58.8%) patients had in-hospital mortality and the main cause was eventual sepsis and multiorgan failure. 12 patients (70.6%) received specific immunosuppressive therapy (steroids-4, IV immunoglobulin -4, plasmaphersis-3, cyclosporine-1) but these therapies made no difference in clinical outcome compared to those who did Phosphoglycerate kinase not receive these therapies (in-hospital mortality- 66.67% vs. 62.25%, respectively). Conclusions: HLH may masquerade as acute hepatic insult, in patients presenting with severe and rapidly progressive liver failure. It is important to suspect and recognise this generally fatal entity early enough in patients with unexplained acute hepatitis or ACLF, especially in presence of severe anemia. Disclosures: The following people have nothing to disclose: Ankur Jindal, Ashok Choudhary, Shiv K. Sarin Background/Aim The prognostic assessment of cirrhotic patients in the ICU provides short-term and controversial results.

The mean fluorescence intensity indicates superoxide levels Stud

The mean fluorescence intensity indicates superoxide levels. Student’s t-tests were performed to determine differences between samples. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A decreased intracellular superoxide production was observed in leucocytes from advanced HCC patients compared to patients without HCC (1739±105 versus 3145±443 fluorescence arbitrary units (FAU), p<0.05, respectively). The decreased production of intracellular superoxide was observed in monocytes, neutrophils and lymphocytes. Analysis of mitochondrial super-oxide formation with MitoSOX showed an increased (p<0.05) production of mitochondrial superoxide in leucocytes from HCC patients

that was observed in neutrophils (2667±407 vs 1266±84 FAU, p<0.05) and monocytes (3807±514 vs 2762±195 FAU, p<0.05) but not in lymphocytes (1827±231 vs 1977±160

PD0325901 purchase FAU, P>0.05). Conclusions: The results demonstrate a reverse effect of HCC on intracellular and mitochondrial superoxide levels. Leucocytes from patients with advanced HCC showed a decrease in intracellular superoxide and an increase in mitochondrial superoxide. These changes in super-oxide production in HCC patients could modulate immune responses through effects on signal transduction cascades. The determination of superoxide levels in leucocytes with FACS analysis might have value in the prediction of response to treatment in HCC patients. Disclosures: The following people have nothing to disclose: Paloma Lluch, Laia Navarro Lopez, Gloria Segarra, Guadalupe Herrera, Maria Mora, Joan Tosca, Miguel Angel Serra, Pascual Medina Background Stemness in cancer is currently of great interest GDC-0449 supplier as it can be used to predict prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We recently proposed an HCC classification system defined by the stem cell markers epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) to identify HCC subtypes closely related to certain liver lineages with distinct prognosis (Yamashita et al, Gastroenterology 2009). Here, we evaluated the utility of determining serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) levels, encoded by DKK1, a gene activated by Wnt signaling Reverse transcriptase and co-regulated

with EPCAM, for the diagnosis of HCC with stem cell features. Material and Methods Patients diagnosed with HCC at the Liver Center, Kanazawa University Hospital, Japan from 2005 to 2012 were enrolled. We measured serum DKK-1 levels using the human DKK-1 ELISA kit (Uscn Life Science Inc.). Hepatic stem cell-like (HpSC-) and mature hepatocyte-like (MH-) HCCs were defined as previously described (Yamashita et al, Cancer Research 2008). Clinicopathological characteristics were determined and analyzed statistically in relation to serum DKK-1 concentrations using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses with log-rank tests, Cox proportional hazards models, Fisher’s exact tests, and logistic regression models. Results The study included 357 HCC patients.

Smart pools of mouse Bim small interfering

RNA (siRNA) du

Smart pools of mouse Bim small interfering

RNA (siRNA) duplexes and nontargeting control duplexes were purchased from Dharmacon (ON-TARGETplus SMARTpool); the Lipofectamine RNAiMAX transfection reagent was obtained from Invitrogen. For siRNA transfection, cells were reverse-transfected with 10 nM siRNA with Lipofectamine in the Opti-MEM medium according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Effective knockdown was verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunoblotting after different times selleck chemicals (Supporting Fig. 1). Other experimental procedures are described in detail in the supporting information. These include the mice, preparation of total, cytosolic, und mitochondrial lysates, western blotting, quantification of neuroblastoma 2A

(N2A) FasL, quantification of V1q TNFα-neutralizing antibody, DEVDase assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assay, Cell Death Detection enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), RNA isolation, complementary DNA synthesis and qRT-PCR, and cytochrome c ELISA. We previously reported that FasL induces the apoptosis of collagen-cultured primary murine hepatocytes via the type I signaling pathway, but only to a moderate extent.12 In this study, we focused on the crosstalk of FasL with the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα. We preincubated collagen-cultured primary murine hepatocytes with 25 ng/mL TNFα for selleck kinase inhibitor 12 hours, and this was followed by a treatment with 50 ng/mL FasL for 6 hours. As expected, untreated and TNFα-treated hepatocytes showed a typical binuclear morphology and no signs of cell death over an incubation period of 18 hours (Fig. 1A). In contrast, as previously Dimethyl sulfoxide reported, cells treated with FasL for 6 hours showed hallmarks of apoptosis such as cell shrinkage

and plasma membrane blebbing.12 When the cells were preincubated with TNFα for 12 hours before the FasL treatment, they underwent a significantly higher degree of apoptosis (Fig. 1A). These findings could be confirmed by the measurement of the effector caspase-3/caspase-7 activity in response to the different treatments. As shown in Fig. 1B, the longer the hepatocytes were cultured (12, 24, or 48 hours), the more caspase-3/caspase-7 activity they displayed with a 6-hour FasL treatment. If during this culturing the cells were exposed to TNFα, the caspase-3/caspase-7 activities further increased and were consistently higher than those with FasL alone. Importantly, a minimum preincubation time of approximately 2.5 to 3 hours was needed for TNFα to exert its sensitization on FasL-induced caspase-3/caspase-7 activation, and this indicated that the TNFα effect was not immediate (Fig. 1C). We also tested the dose dependence of the sensitization and found that varying the TNFα concentrations from 10 to 50 ng/mL did not modulate the preincubation time required for sensitization (Supporting Fig. 2).

Although gastric variceal bleeding is not common as well as esoph

Although gastric variceal bleeding is not common as well as esophageal variceal bleeding, it will be dangerous and difficulty to control in the event of bleeding. Both American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and European Association

for the Study of the Liver (EASL) recommend that injection of cyanoacrylate is a preferred treatment for gastric variceal bleeding. Domestic and international studies have confirmed that the method is relatively safe and effective, with the characteristics of simpleness and less complications. Two patients, one with isolated gastric varices, another with gastric varices of type 2, were underwent injection of cyanoacrylate by the sandwich method (lipiodol and cyanoacrylate). And their gastric varices were eradicated selleck kinase inhibitor with no prominent complications during Fulvestrant the follow-up. Methods: Cyanoacrylate anf lipiodol were injected into gastric varices by Sandwich method. Results: Case 1 A 53-year-old man with hepatitis B virus-associated

liver cirrhosis was admitted to our hospital on December 12, 2010. One day prior to admission, he overeat and then vomited coffee-liked fluid about 500 ml and discharged tarry stool about 300 ml, with dizzy and feeble. At the time of admission he was afebrile, had a pulse rate of 90/min, and was normotensive (BP 115/70 mmHg). Moderate pale conjunctiva was observed. Liver palm and spider angioma were negative. No abnormalities were noticed on cardiac and respiratory examinations. There was no splenomegaly or palpable mass from

Tryptophan synthase abdominal palpation, either. His abdomen was tender to palpation without guarding. A complete blood count revealed moderate anemia (hemoglobin level, 8.4 g/dL), leukocytosis (14 940 cells/mm3 with 86.9% polymorphonuclear cells) and platelets (53 000 cells/mm3). Other laboratory examination showed serum albumin (ALB) 3.96 g/dL, total serum bilirubin (TBIL) 1.33 mg/dL, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 27 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 38 U/L, serum creatine (Cr) 57 umol/L, and alpha fetal protein (AFP) 5.56 ng/ml. The Child-Pugh classification was A with prothrombin time (PT) 15.6 s. In this case, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) were positive. And HBV-DNA was negative. Abdominal ultrasonographic examination showed liver cirrhosis and splenomegaly. After admission, proton pump inhibitor (PPI), octreotide, hemostatics and cefuroxime were given. On the second day, he underwent gastroscopy when the isolated gastric varices of type 1 was noted (Figure 1A). 2 ml cyanoacrylate and 2 ml lipiodol were injected into dilated gastric varix by Sandwich method. He was fasted for 24 hours post-procedure and then allowed to liquid diets. Acid suppression, hemostatics, octreotide and antibiotic continue to use. He had no bleeding and was discharged on the fifth day after injection of cyanoacrylate. After 2 months, gastric varices shrank and residual scar was observed in the site of injection (Figure 1A).

91 and specificity of 0 78 Conclusion:  IFN-beta induction thera

91 and specificity of 0.78. Conclusion:  IFN-beta induction therapy resulted in acceptable SVR rates despite short therapy duration. Steep reduction of HCV by IFN-beta enables us to predict

SVR in the first week of therapy. “
“Patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) represent a complex population with differential prognosis. The aim of the study was to categorize ACLF according to the severity of underlying chronic Selleck MG132 liver diseases (CLD). A total of 540 ACLF patients were recruited, including 127 with prior decompensated cirrhosis and 413 without prior decompensation (PD) including 193 with underlying chronic hepatitis and 220 with prior compensated cirrhosis. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of subgroups were compared. Cox proportional hazard model and multinominal logistic regression analysis were performed to identify significant prognostic parameters. The 28-day, 3-month and 1-year survival of ACLF

patients with or without PD were Sirolimus mouse 58.9% versus 61.4%, 36.2 versus 52.5% and 29.1% versus 49.6%, respectively. On multinominal logistic regression analysis or time-to-death analysis by Cox proportional hazard model, PD was significantly associated with post-28-day mortality but not within-28-day mortality. On multivariate time-to-death analysis, elder age, high INR and serum bilirubin, low levels of serum sodium and platelet count, and presence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE), upper gastrointestinal bleeding, respiratory or circulation dysfunction were predictors of within-28-day mortality

in patients without PD, whereas the risk factors in patients with PD were high INR, creatinine, presence of HE, respiratory or circulation dysfunction. ACLF patients with or without PD had comparable short-term prognosis but differential 1-year mortality. ACLF patients with PD were distinct from those without PD in age, types of acute insults, severity of hepatic damage and distribution of complications and the former group was characterized by increased delayed mortality. “
“The role of progenitor cells in liver repair and fibrosis has been extensively described, but their purification remains a challenge, hampering their characterization and BCKDHB use in regenerative medicine. To address this issue, we developed an easy and reproducible liver progenitor cell (LPC) isolation strategy based on aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity, a common feature shared by many progenitor cells. We demonstrate that a subset of nonparenchymal mouse liver cells displays high levels of ALDH activity, allowing the isolation of these cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Immunocytochemistry and qPCR analyses on freshly isolated ALDH+ cells reveal an enrichment in cells expressing liver stem cell markers such as EpCAM, CK19, CD133, and Sox9.