Fig. 3
In-vitro and in-vivo differentiation of ADPKD-iPSCs. (a) Embryoid body (EB) formation by ADPKD-specific iPSCs in suspension culture. Differentiated EBs expressed markers from all three germ layers, including α-fetoprotein (AFP; endoderm, bar = 25 μm), Nestin and Desmin (mesoderm), Brachyury: BRY and βIII-tubulin (ectoderm). Bar = 50 μm. (b) qPCR analysis showing differences in gene expression patterns between undifferentiated iPSCs and differentiated EBs. Undifferentiated iPSCs expressed high levels of endogenous OCT4 and NANOG genes while EBs expressed high levels of marker genes of all three layers. Data presented as mean ± standard deviation from three independent sets of experiments. *P < 0.05. (c) Teratomas evident following the injection of undifferentiated ADPKD-specific iPSCs into immunodeficient mice. Bar = 1 cm. (d) Hematoxylin and eosin staining of tissues from all three germ layers. Bar = 1 cm. ADPKD autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, iPS induced pluripotent stem cell, TSB name of family member (Color figure online)