Characteristics of the natural counterpart to LRDCs in the liver. (A) Liver NPCs were labeled with fluorescence-conjugated CD11c, I-A^b, and CD11b, and the CD11c^lowI-A^b-lowCD11b^hi cells were sorted by FACSDiva. (B) Bone marrow–derived EGFP⁺Lin⁻CD117⁺ progenitors were transferred into the liver through mesentery vein injection. After 6 days, single-cell suspensions from different organs of recipient mice were prepared and analyzed for the percentage of EGFP⁺ cells. (C) EGFP⁺ cells with dendrites in the liver after EGFP⁺ progenitors transfer were observed under microscope (Leica-DMIRB). Original magnification, 40× objective. (D) Kinetics of EGFP⁺ cell proliferation in the liver after EGFP⁺Lin⁻CD117⁺ progenitors were transferred into the liver. After EGFP⁺ progenitors were transferred, the liver NPC suspensions were prepared on different days and analyzed for the sum of EGFP⁺ cells. (E) At 6 days after progenitors were transferred, the liver NPC suspensions were prepared and gated EGFP⁺ cells were analyzed for the percentage of CD11b^hiCD11c^lowI-A^low cells by flow cytometry. Data are representative of at least 3 independent experiments.