Figure 5. CD49f⁻ cells generate the CD133⁺ subpopulation.

(A) FACS analyses of frequencies of the CD49f⁻CD133⁺, CD49f⁻CD133⁻, CD49f⁺CD133⁺, and CD49f⁺CD133⁻ subpopulations in UT2 cells. (B) CD49f⁻ cells differentiated to CD133⁺ subpopulation (27.8%) after 14 days of culture from basal level of 7.4% in UT2 cells, compared to CD49f⁺ cells with a slight increase (8.4%). (C & D) CD117⁺ (panel C) and Stro-1⁺ (panel D) subpopulations remained essentially unchanged after culture of CD49f⁺ or CD49f⁻ cells for 14 days. (E) CD117⁺ cells failed to initiate tumor formation and Stro-1⁺ cells showed low tumorigenicity. (F) CD133⁺ cells showed higher tumorigenicity than CD133⁻ cells.