Dual Inhibition of BMP and WNT Signals Promotes Pancreatic Differentiation from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Figure 4

Further inhibition of WNT and BMP could promote pancreatic progenitor differentiation. (a) The immunofluorescence showed the BMPi (BMP inhibitor only) and “Dual i” (BMP inhibitor LDN193189 plus WNT inhibitor XAV939 together) groups with endodermal lineage marker in pancreatic progenitor stage. The expression levels of PDX1 and NKX6-1 (pancreatic lineage) were much higher in “Dual i,” while AFP (liver lineage) and CDX2 (intestine lineage) fell down in “Dual i.” Scale bars for enlargement inset, 50 μm. (b) Flow cytometry showed the analysis of different endodermal lineage markers (PDX1, AFP, CDX2) between the BMPi and “Dual i” (n = 3). (c) mRNA expression of endodermal lineages (PDX1, NKX6-1, AFP, CDX2) analyzed in BMPi and “Dual i.” represented for value < 0.05 and for value < 0.01 by Student’s -test (). (d) Costaining PDX1 and NKX6-1 represented bona fide pancreatic progenitors in “Dual i” and BMPi conditions.

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