Adipocyte growth factor leptin may be involved in leukemia cell engraftment in EXM-BM derived from CTGF KD MSCs. (A-B) mRNA was isolated from control and CTGF KD MSCs before and after differentiation into adipocytes, and expression of (A) SDF1α and (B) leptin was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. (C) Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on EXM-BM generated by control or CTGF KD MSCs. The sections were stained with antileptin antibody and later developed with diaminobenzidine. (D) Schematic representation of a possible mechanism behind leukemia engraftment into CTGF KD EXM-BM.