Tumorigenic and Differentiation Potentials of Embryonic Stem Cells Depend on TGFβ Family Signaling: Lessons from Teratocarcinoma Cells Stimulated to Differentiate with Retinoic Acid

Figure 4

Tumorigenic and differentiation potential of RA-simulated ES R1 and EC F9 cells after transplantation into nude mice. (a and b) teratomas and teratocarcinomas developed in nude mice after subcutaneous (SC) and intraperitoneal (IP) transplantation of ES R1 and EC F9 cells on day 5 RA stimulation (T(ES R1 RA5), T(EC F9 RA5)) and on day 3 after RA withdrawal (T(ES R1 RA10 + 3), T(EC F9 RA10 + 3)). (c) Sections through teratomas and teratocarcinomas formed by RA-simulated ES R1 and EC F9 cells after transplantation into nude mice. The teratomas contain derivatives of three germ layers while the teratocarcinomas consisted entirely of undifferentiated cancer cells. No teratocarcinomas have formed during 30 weeks after the transplantation of EC F9 cells on day 3 after RA withdrawal (RA10 + 3). Scale bar = 100 μm.

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