Figure 7. A model for Mage family involvement in the self-renewal and differentiation of pluripotent stem and teratocarcinoma cells.

The first module with Mage-a4 is involved in the positive regulation of self-renewal of pluripotent stem and teratocatcinoma cells. Additional module with variable expression of Mage-a2, Mage-a6, Mage-h1, Mage-b4 and Mage-b16 is associated with teratocarcinogenesis. The second module with Mage-e1 and Mage-l2 is activated after the initiation of differentiation. The early somatic lineage differentiation is associated with the expression of Mage-a8, Mage-b1, Mage-d1 and Mage-d2, which belong to the third gene module. Additionally, the germ and somatic lineage differentiation correlates with changes in the expression of Mage-b16, Mage-b18 and Mage-a10. Blue and red lines indicate positive and negative correlations, relatively.