miR-221 mimics induce mouse ESC differentiation.
A and D, microscopic images of V6.5 (A) and R1 (D) mouse ESCs after treatment with miR-221-3p and miR-221-5p mimics. Mouse ESCs were treated with miRNA mimics for 2 days (2d) or 4 days (4d). Red bars, 100 μm; black bars, 200 μm; BF, bright field; AP, alkaline phosphatase. B and E, analysis of relative Oct4, Nanog, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc mRNA levels in V6.5 (B) and R1 (E) mouse ESCs after treatment with miR-221-3p and miR-221-5p mimics. C, relative miR-221-3p and miR-221-5p levels during RA-induced V6.5 mouse ESC differentiation. RA 5d, retinoic acid treatment for 5 days; RA 10d, retinoic acid treatment for 10 days. Data are presented as the mean ± S.D. of three independent experiments. *, p < 0.05; **; p < 0.01; and ***, p < 0.001.