Fig. 1.

CD34 expression in differentiating human mast cells. Aliquots of PBMC obtained from anonymous blood donors were lysed for RNA isolation (PBMC), and the remaining cells were used for the purification of CD133+ cells by magnetic separation. Aliquots of the purified CD133+ cells were lysed for RNA isolation (CD133+), and the remaining cells were cultured under mast cell differentiating conditions for up to five weeks. At the indicated time points, the cells were lysed for RNA purification. The RNA was used to determine CD34 expression by real-time RT-PCR. The data obtained from a total of 35 donors and 33 mast cell cultures, each initiated from a single donor, are presented as median, lower and upper quartile, and minimum and maximum for each experimental condition from at least 11 cultures. * indicates significant differences at p < 0.05 as compared to the CD133+ cells