Leukemia cells specifically engraft into EXM-BM derived from CTGF KD MSCs. To investigate leukemia engraftment in EXM-BM derived from (left) control or (right) CTGF KD MSCs, the corresponding cells, in combination with endothelial progenitor cells and Matrigel, were transplanted subcutaneously into NOD/SCID/IL-2rγ^null mice. Eight weeks later, (A-C) Molm13 or (D-F) Nalm6 cells (2 × 10⁶) stably expressing firefly (FF) luciferase were transplanted intravenously into the mice harboring EXM-BM. (A,D) Two weeks after transplantation, the mice were imaged via the IVIS bioluminescence imager after injection of the luciferase substrate. The signal intensities were measured by the IVIS live imaging software package. (B,E) As an alternative, bone pellets were dissected and fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, and the tissue sections were stained for immunohistochemical analysis with the anti-FF luciferase antibody. (C,F) The brown color indicates positive luciferase staining.