Fig. 4

MEECs express tissue-specific markers and maintain lineage differentiation potential. A MEECs express tissue-specific markers. Cells were cultured on the sterile glass cover slips at an appropriate density and fixed in 4% (w/v) paraformaldehyde, permeabilized with 0.5% Triton-X-100, and labeled with the primary antibodies against Vimentin, EpCAM, ERα, PR, Mucin1, P63, and CD44, respectively. These protein markers were detected by immunofluorescence assay. The proteins were stained by second antibody goat-anti-mouse IgG—Cy3. The nuclei were stained by 0.5 μg/ml DAPI. Scale bar, 50 μm. B Histological structure of murine endometrium tissue and ALI 3D cultures. The cells were cultured in air–liquid interface (ALI) systems for 14 days. The murine endometrium tissue or ALI 3D cultures were fixed by 4% paraformaldehyde (w/v) and then paraffin-embedded and sectioned using standard histological procedures. The result of H&E staining was photographed under the microscope. Scale bar, 50 μm. C Expression of tissue-specific markers in murine endometrium tissue and ALI 3D cultures. MEECs were cultured in air–liquid interface (ALI) for 14 days. The originated endometrium tissue or ALI 3D cultures were fixed by 4% paraformaldehyde (w/v) and paraffin-embedded, sectioned, and detected by DAB staining with the specific antibodies against Vimentin, EpCAM, ERα, PR, Mucin1, and P63. Scale bar, 50 μm