A BrdU incorporation assay was performed to analyze the cell proliferation (cycle) of UT7/Epo-S1 cells and CD36+ EPCs, followed by flow cytometry analysis, as described previously (57 (link)). The cell viability assay was performed as previously described using a CytoTox-Glo cytotoxicity assay kit (#G9290, Promega) (58 (link)).