Fig. 5.

CD146 promotes stemness in GBM cells. A Western blots showing increased expression of SOX2 and Oct-4 in CD146/GFP overexpressing GG16 neurospheres (NSP) and differentiated cells (Diff). B Representative images of GG16 control and GG16-CD146/GFP colonies in colony formation assay showing more dispersed cells in CD146 overexpressing cells (scale bars = 200 μm). C Quantified data of colony numbers in GG16 control compared with CD146/GFP overexpressing GG16 cells for 2000 cells plated. D, E Representative images (scale bars = 400 μm) and quantified data of GG16 control or CD146/GFP overexpression neurospheres in limiting dilution assays. F Western blots showing reduced SOX2 and Oct-4 expression in two different GSC23-CD146-ko cells compared to control serum-differentiated cells. G, H Representative images and quantified data of GSC23 control and two different GSC23-CD146-ko neurospheres in limiting dilution assay. CD146 loss reduces neurosphere formation potential (scale bars = 200 μm). I, J Representative images and quantified data of differentiated GSC23 control vs GSC23-CD146-ko in colony formation assays. CD146 loss reduces colony formation potential in differentiated GSC23 cells. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 by Student’s t test