Figure 3. Human α6β4⁺ cells differentiate into both basal and Clara cells ex vivo.

α6⁺ cells were isolated from normal human distal lung and cultured in Matrigel for 33 days. (A, B, C) Colonies were stained with (A) basal cell marker K-5 (red) and (B) Clara cell marker CC10 (green). (C) Merged image of K-5 and CC10. (D, E, F) Immunostaining of colonies with (D) type II AEC marker SPC (red) and (E) β4 (green). (F) Merged image of SPC and β4 staining. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar=100 µm.