Skip to main content
. 2015 Apr 13;10(4):e0123193. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123193

Fig 1. Established hiHSCs express markers of both ESCs and hepatocytes.

Fig 1

(A, B, C) The gene expression of established hiHSCs was analyzed by DNA microarray. Shown are data characterized by (A) scatter plots, (B) profiling plots, and (C) a heat map of the expression profiles of embryonic stem cell (ESC)- and hepatocyte-enriched genes to compare hiHSCs (clones AFB1-1, NGC1-1, and NGC1-2) with fibroblasts, human ESCs (ES01, BG03, and H9), hiPSCs (201B7), a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HuH-7), and human adult hepatocytes. Normalized fluorescent intensity values range from red (high) to blue (low) coloring. Scatter plots are colored by the values of cell samples along the Y-axis. Profiling plots are colored by the values of hepatocytes. All three of the clones exhibit unique gene expression profiles expressing both hESC-enriched genes and hepatocyte-enriched genes distinct from fibroblasts, ESCs, hiPSCs, HuH-7, and hepatocytes. See also S2, S3, and S4 Figs. (D) Phase contrast micrographs showing the morphology of hiHSCs (clone AFB1-1) at days 1, 4, and 6 after passage. Scale bar represents 100 μm. See also S5 Fig. (E) Staining of immunocytochemistry and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of hiHSCs (clone AFB1-1). Immune double-staining confirms the co-expression of ESC-specific transcription factors (OCT3/4, SOX2, and NANOG) and hepatocyte-marker proteins (AFP, FABP1, ALB, CK8, and DLK1). ALP activity was stained with violet coloring. Scale bar represents 100 μm. See also S7, S8, S9, and S10 Figs.