affinity column using magneticactivated cell-sorting (MACS) CD34 Isolation Kit (130046702,
Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany). Briefly, the MNCs were suspended in PBS (up
to 108 total cells). Then, 100 µl human Fc receptor (FcR) blocking reagent and 100 µl
anti-CD34 microbeads were added, mixed and incubated at 4°C for 30 minutes. Subsequently,
the MNCs were washed with PBS and centrifuged at 300 g for 10 minutes. The labeled MNCs
were then re-suspended in 3 mL PBS and passed through an LS separation column (130042401,
Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany) placed in a magnetic field to capture the
CD34+ cells. In order to collect the CD34+ cells, the column was
removed from the magnetic field and flushed with a PBS and 2 mM EDTA washing solution. The
purity of CD34+ cells was assessed by flow cytometry using antihuman
phycoerythrin (PE) -conjugated CD34 antibody (550761, Pharmingen, San Diego, CA, USA).