Fig. 2.

Activin and HGF treatment preferentially promotes stem cell properties and metastatic capacities of CD133⁺ subpopulations. (A, B) HCT116 and HT29 cells were sorted by flow cytometry based on CD133 and CXCR4 expression. (C, D) Sphere formation assay performed in CD133⁺CXCR4⁺, CD133⁺CXCR4^–, CD133^–CXCR4⁺, and CD133^–CXCR4^– subpopulations sorted from HCT116 and HT29 cells. (E) Subcutaneous xenograft tumors formed from the CD133⁺CXCR4⁺, CD133⁺CXCR4^–, CD133^–CXCR4⁺, and CD133^–CXCR4^– subpopulations of HCT116 cells with or without activin and HGF treatment. (F) HCT116 cell subpopulations treated with activin and HGF were injected into the spleen of nude mice, and liver metastasis (arrowheads) was evaluated. HGF, hepatocyte growth factor. *p<0.05.