CXCR4 expression analysis of the cultured HSPCs.

<p>(A) The expanded cells were stained using anti CXCR4 antibody and the expression was assessed by flow cytometry. HSPCs cultured in the presence of zVADfmk/zLLYfmk showed a two-fold increase in the CXCR4⁺ population compared to the control counterpart. Data are represented as mean percentage ± standard deviation of five biological replicates, <i>*p≤0.05</i>, <i>**p≤0.01</i>. A representative flow-overlay is shown in the inset. (B) Confocal microscopy images further confirm higher expression of CXCR4 (green) on cell surface of HSPCs from zVADfmk/zLLYfmk cultures than that of controls. Cell nuclei (blue) were stained with DAPI (bar = 10 µm, n = 3). (C) Flow cytometry analyses of HSPCs after multicolor staining (CD34 and CXCR4 or CD34, CD38 and CXCR4) demonstrate higher CXCR4 positive population in CD34⁺ and CD34⁺CD38⁻ compartments. Thus, zVADfmk/zLLYfmk facilitates higher production of CXCR4 expressing CD34⁺ and CD34⁺CD38⁻ hematopoietic progenitor cells. Data are represented as mean percentage ± standard deviation of four experiments, <i>*p≤0.5.</i>