Figure 1.

Uncoupled state in undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Staining of an undifferentiated hESC (H1 cell line) colony (A, left) and adult human aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs; A, right) with the potentiometric mitochondrial dye JC-1. Scale bar: 25 μm. Green indicates low mitochondrial membrane potential, and red indicates higher mitochondrial membrane potential. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) is measured by the Seahorse XF-24 analyzer in adherent hESCs and aortic SMCs over time, when exposed to the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase inhibitor oligomycin, the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP), and the respiration inhibitor antimycin (B). Relative expression of the uncoupling protein 2 (UCP-2) in undifferentiated hESCs and SMCs as assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (C). mRNA: messenger RNA.