Figure 9.

Expression patterns of hepatic progenitor cell markers (ABCG2, M3R, CK19, c-kit, and CK14), hepatocyte markers (AFP and albumin), and transcription factors involved in hepatic embryogenesis (GATA6, C/EBPα, and C/EBPβ) (RT-PCR). Hepatic progenitor cell markers and AFP are more intensely expressed in ABCG2⁺ cells compared with ABCG2⁻ cells. Conversely, albumin expression is more intense in ABCG2⁻ cells. Expression patterns of transcriptional factors are different between ABCG2⁺ and ABCG2⁻ cells. Expression patterns of these molecules in ABCG2⁺ cells gradually altered during 4 weeks of subculture, whereas ABCG2⁻ cells did not show significant changes in mRNA expression in this period.