Fig. 6: GLI2-, LRIG1- and LGR6-expressing undifferentiated cells are expanded in human MGC.

a, b In normal human MG GLI2 protein localizes to acinar basal cells (a, yellow arrows) and differentiating meibocytes (a, white arrows) but is absent from fully differentiated meibocytes (a, light blue arrows); in MGC samples GLI2 is broadly expressed (b). c, d In normal human MG, GLI1 mRNA is weakly expressed in some acinar basal cells (c, yellow arrows); GLI1⁺ cells are widely present in MGCs (d). e–h LRIG1⁺ and LGR6⁺ cells are primarily present in the acinar basal layer of normal human MGs (e, g, yellow arrows); MGC displays expansion of LRIG1⁺ and LGR6⁺ cells (f, h). i, j Ki-67⁺ cells localize to the normal human acinar basal layer (i, white arrows) and are expanded in MGC (j, yellow arrows). k, l PLIN2-/KRT14⁺ cells are restricted to the acinar basal layer in normal human MG (k, white arrows) but are distributed more broadly in MGC tissue (l, yellow arrows). 7 normal human MG and 10 human MGC samples were analyzed; representative data are shown. Scale bars: 50 μm.