The Neural Progenitor Cell-Associated Transcription Factor FoxG1 Regulates Cardiac Epicardial Cell Proliferation

Figure 1

CD104 MACS enriches for Keratin-18⁺ epicardial cells. ((a): a1–a3) Keratin 18 marks podoplanin-expressing epicardial cells on the heart surface. Arrows indicate that Keratin 18 and podoplanin are localized to the epicardium. (b–e2) Epithelial-like epicardial cells were isolated by MACS using antibodies to CD104 (β4-integrin). Culture of CD104⁺ epicardial cells on gelatin/laminin-coated plates in LASR medium with Alk5 inhibitor prevented EMT and maintained expression of epicardial markers such as Keratin 18 and WT1 for several weeks. (b–c2) 2 weeks of culture in LASR medium. (d)–(e2) 3 weeks of culture in LASR medium.