α6β1- and αV-integrins are required for long-term self-renewal of murine embryonic stem cells in the absence of LIF

Abstract

In the absence of LIF, long-term ES cell cultures adapt an epistem cell-like epithelial phenotype and retain the expression of multiple stem cell markers. Long-term maintenance of such self-renewing cultures depends on the expression of β1-, α6- and αV-integrins.