Figure 1

Preferential survival and growth of MACS-sorted CD133(+) cells in mixed population xenografts, and sustained CD133 expression after reprogramming. GFP- CD133(+) and DsRed-CD133(−) cells were isolated by MACS (a), injected into the flanks of nude mice, and tumors were visualized and measured by Maestro in vivo imaging after indicated periods of time. p-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant and represented with a single asterisk, while p < 0.01 are labeled with two asterisks. (b). (c) CD133 expression of reprogrammed BAK-R MIC and BAK-P populations assessed by immunofluorescent staining with anti-CD133-PE for 3 weeks show that BAK-R, but not BAK-P melanoma cells, exhibit sustained CD133 expression. Representative images after immunofluorescent staining of BAK-P and BAK-R cells with anti-CD133-PE (d, right panels) as well as qRT-PCR (e) and immunoblot (f) analyses showing elevated CD133 expression in BAK-R compared to BAK-P cells. CD133(+) Caco-2 colon cancer cells and CD133(−) 1205Lu melanoma cells served as positive and negative controls, respectively (d; left panels).