Figure 1
Treatment with embryonic germ cell (EGC) extracts enhances the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). (A) Schematic representation of iPSC generation from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) by ectopic expression of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc (OSKM) followed by exposure to EGC extracts. (B) Sequential morphology of iPSC generation with EGC extract treatments (a) of MEFs (b–d) Morphology of epithelium-like cells after infection at day 3 (e) embryonic stem cell-like colonies formed at day 5 (f) and as colonies become bigger at day 7. (C) Left: Cell cycle by FACS at day 3 and 6 from four factor-infected MEFs treated with EGC extracts and four factor-infected MEFs. Right: Percentage of cells in each cell cycle phase and PI (cell cycle proliferation index) in OSKM transfected MEFs with or without EGC extracts treatment. Mean values ± standard error of the mean (SEM) of three independent experiments are shown. (D) Left: Representative images of alkaline phosphatase-positive (AKP + ) colonies. Cells were fixed at day 8. Right: Number of AKP + colonies. Mean values ± SEM of a representative experiment are shown, n = 3. Scale bar = 100 µm.
