Effect on Multipotency and Phenotypic Transition of Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood after Treatment with Epigenetic Agents

Figure 4

DNA methylation of OCT4 5′ region and OCT4 expression in USSCs 8/25 and SpheUSSCs. On top a schematic outline of the genomic organization of OCT4 5′ region is shown which includes the relative position of an Alu element, the transcription start site (solid arrow), first exon, and CpG dinucleotides (vertical bars) (a). Dashed arrows demarcate the 469 bp region analyzed by bisulfite genomic sequencing. DNA methylation patterns of USSCs 8/25, SpheUSSCs, and ESC are shown (b). Blank circles indicate unmethylated CpG dinucleotides and filled circles indicate methylated CpG dinucleotides. In addition transcription of OCT4 as has been relatively quantified in USSCs, SpheUSSCs, and iPSUSSCs is shown in (c) and OCT4 protein as has been detected by western blotting in USSC, SpheUSSC, and in addition in ESC-H9 reference cells is depicted (d).