Immunization with Embryonic Stem Cells/Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Induces Effective Immunity against Ovarian Tumor-Initiating Cells in Mice

Figure 2

Culture and identification of mESCs and mIPSCs. (a) The culture was maintained with an ESC-conditioned medium, and images of typical mESCs and mIPSCs colonies were taken on Day 4 (magnification, ×40). Self-renewing mESCs/mIPSCs colonies have a spherical, packed appearance. (b) Pluripotency markers SOX2, Oct3/4, and SSEA-1 were stained in mESCs and mIPSCs colonies. Cell nuclei were visualized using the DNA-intercalating dye 40, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). These pluripotency markers were positively expressed in mESCs and mIPSCs colonies but not in MEFs. (c) H&E (hematoxylin and eosin) staining revealed the presence of all three primary germ layer derivatives in intramuscular teratomas (bar, 100 μm). Teratoma development was observed weekly after the mESCs/mIPSCs suspensions (100 μl, 5 × 10⁶ cells with Matrigel™) were administered intramuscularly in NOD/SCID mice. Teratomas of 1 cm in diameter were collected and processed for histopathology.

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