Fig. 5: Recapitulation of gene expression changes associated with EMT (epithelial-mesenchymal transition).

a Expression dynamics of EMT-related genes along pseudotime. b Immunostaining of aggregates with antibodies for FOXD3 (green) and CDH1 (red), and counterstaining with DAPI (blue). FOXD3 and CDH1 were expressed in complementary manner. Scale bar, 100 µm. Three independent cultures were used for experiment and representative images are shown. c Immunostaining of aggregates with antibodies for CDH1 (green), CDH6 (red), and SOX10 (cyan). CDH1 and CDH6 were expressed in complementary manner. SOX10⁺ cells expressed CDH6 instead of CDH1. Scale bar, 100 µm. Three independent cultures were used for experiment and representative images are shown. d Schematic representation of the presumptive process of NCC (neural crest cell)-like cell induction from hPSCs (human pluripotent stem cells). hPSCs bifurcate into NPB (neural plate border)-like cells or Endo (endoderm)-like cells at first. Then NPB-like cells differentiate into NNE/PPE (non-neural ectoderm/pre-placodal epithelium)-like cells, NEC (neuroepithelial cell)-like cells, and NCC-like cells. NCC-like cell induction depends on aggregate-intrinsic WNT/BMP (bone morphogenetic protein) signals and is associated with EMT-like gene expression changes.