CD133+ cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of 70 DMD patients and 20 age-matched control subjects and analyzed by flow-cytometry.

<p>Representative panels show the CD133+CXCR4+CD34+ subpopulation in healthy subjects (mean percentage±SD, 1.58±2.39 of total CD133+ cells) (upper right panel in A) and in DMD patients (3.87±0.63)(lower right panel in B). A subpopulation of CD133+CXCR4+CD34-cells was significantly increased in DMD patients (lower right panel in B) compared with healthy controls (lower right panel in A) (mean percentage±SD, 17.38±1.38 vs. 11.0±1.70 of total CD133+ cells). (C) Histogram showing the percentages of CD133+CXCR4+CD34+ cells of healthy controls compared to DMD patients. (D) Histogram demonstrating the percentages of CD133+CXCR4+CD34- cells in healthy controls compared with to DMD patients. *Significance (<i>P</i> < 0.05).