Figure 5. E-Cadherin regulates FAB-SC pluripotency.
A FAB-SCs constitutively expressing a GFP transgene were transduced with control vector or shRNA to knock down E-Cadherin. A tdTomato reporter gene was co-expressed from the lentiviral shRNA vector to allow identification of knockdown cells. Cdh1-knockdown results in FAB-SC differentiation, middle top panel, arrowhead. B. FAB-SCs were transduced with either control vector or Cdh1 expression vector and 1 × 106 cells were injected subcutaneously into NOD-SCID mice. Tumors were analyzed for germlayer differentiation 1 month after injection of the cells. Top panels: H&E staining of teratomas generated from Cdh1-FAB-SCs. I: Keratinocyte, II: Adipocyte, III: Gut. Lower panels: Immunohistochemistry analysis of markers of IV: Nestin, ectoderm, V: Smooth Muscle Actin, mesoderm and VI: FoxA2, endoderm.