Expression of transcripts typical of pluripotent cells and CD133 in the Lin⁻CD45⁻ population.

<p>(<b>A–C</b>) Expression of the embryonic stem cell markers, SSEA-4 and OCT3/4 but not of SOX2 are detected by flow cytometry (percentage represents the mean from 5 different samples). (<b>D</b>) SSC and FSC back gate shows <i>SSEA-4</i>⁺ and <i>OCT3/4</i>⁺ subpopulations compared to specific size beads of 6 µm and the Lin⁻CD45dimCD34⁺ (black); they are in the same size range both in FSC or SSC. (E) <i>SOX2</i>, <i>OCT3/4</i> and <i>NANOG</i> transcripts are detected by RT-PCR. (<b>F and G</b>) Expression of Nestin and CD133 markers by qPCR in human neural (hNSC), in the Lin⁻CD45⁻ fraction, and mesenchymal (MSC) stem cells. Nestin is expressed in both Lin⁻CD45⁻ cells and MSCs cells though at a much lower level than in hNSC. Note that CD133 mRNA is not detected in the Lin⁻CD45⁻ fraction.