CD34⁺ cells (5 × 10⁵/mL) purified from bone marrow cells of healthy volunteers were incubated with or without 40 μg/mL nRCAS1 for 24 hours, in IMDM containing 20% FCS, 1% BSA, 2 U/mL rhEPO, 50 ng/mL rhSCF, 20 ng/mL rhIL-3, 10 ng/mL rhGM-CSF, and 10 ng/mL TPO at 37°C in a high-humidity 5% CO₂, 95% air incubator. The cells were then collected, and 3 × 10³ cells in methylcellulose containing media with growth factors were plated in triplicate 35-mm culture dishes. Those dishes were incubated at 37°C in a high-humidity 5% CO₂, 95% air incubator. After 18 days of culture, BFU-E, CFU-GM, and CFU-GEMM were scored, using an inverted microscope and standard criteria for identification. Values are mean ± SD from four independent experiments.

BFU-E indicates burst-forming unit erythroids; CFU-GM, colony-forming unit granulocyte macrophages; CFU-GEMM, colony-containing granulocytes, erythroids, macrophages, and megakaryocytes; IMDM, Iscoves modified Dulbecco medium; FCS, fetal calf serum; BSA, bovine serum albumin; TPO, thrombopoietin.

Versus control (without nRCAS1), P = .0052.