Figure 2.

Celector profile of control individuals and DMD USCs

(A–C) Elution profile of control individuals (4–6) and DMD (IH and AF) samples and cell collection time intervals (fractions F1, F2, and F3). The profile represents the number of eluting cells versus time.

(A) Control cells showed a similar profile, as seen by the same elution time (6 to 15 min). The height of the peak represents the number of cells analyzed. In the control group, cell aggregates eluted in the first minutes are recorded by the first peak.

(B) DMD cells showed a similar profile, but the elution time is shorter compared to control (CTRL) cells. When two DMD samples were analyzed, it was evident that there was a higher distribution of cells in F2 (5 to 7.5 min) in the IH sample compared to the AF sample (colored area, ∗).

(C) The comparison of the three profiles showed a heterogeneity among USCs. DMD-USCs exit earlier from the capillary channel compared to CTRL, meaning that they are bigger and denser.

(D) Based on live images of eluting cells taken by the camera placed at the outlet of the capillary channel, we confirmed the presence of cell aggregates in F1 and then single cells flowed in F2 and F3.

(E) Area of eluting cells confirmed the separation principle. Average of DMD cell area is higher for all three fractions (F1, F2, and F3) compared to CTRL.

(F) Differences in the cell area between the two DMD samples. DMD AF presented bigger cells compared to DMD IH. Graphs show average and standard deviation., Unpaired t test was performed: ∗p < 0.05; ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.