Fig. 7

Differentiation of CD117⁺ TSCs into three germ layers in vitro. CD117⁺ TSCs were cultured by a hanging drop technique for 2 days and then the spheroids were cultured in ultra-low attachment 6-well plates for 14 days in growth medium in the absence of LIF and FGFβ. Total RNA was then extracted from the cells. a Bar graph showing quantitation of qRT-PCR for fold change in markers of endoderm (CER1 and GATA6), mesoderm (TBXT and BMP7), and ectoderm (FGF5 and OTX2). b Bar graph showing quantitation of qRT-PCR for fold change in markers of endoderm-derived lung alveoli epithelium cells (AQP5 and SPC), mesoderm-derived cardiomyocytes cells (Sar α-actinin and cTnT), and ectoderm-derived retinal photoreceptor cells (Rho and Rec). *P < 0.05 compared to their undifferentiated cells, n = 4 for each group