Fig. 1

Generation and characterization of embryonic stem cell (ES) cell-derived hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Mouse ES cell colonies (a) coaxed to form embryoid bodies (EBs) (b) using methylcellulose medium, after which they are dissociated into single cells. These cells are then cultivated in a rich culture medium supplemented with growth factors to promote differentiation and propagation of HPCs (c).These cells strongly express hematopoietic progenitor markers CD41 and CD45 (d), as well as hematopoietic stem cell markers c-Kit and Sca-1 (e), which are thought to play roles in cell homing (a–e, n = 200). f HPCs expand at a predictable rate of ~ 1.5 times every day following harvest (observed vs predicted rate of daily turnover proliferation index, p = 0.141 via unpaired Student’s t test; p = 0.345 for observed vs predicted raw cell counts; n = 2). Scale bars = 100 μm