Analysis of globin chains in CD34+-cell-derived erythroblasts was performed by reverse-phase HPLC, as previously described48 (link),49 (link). In brief, the reverse-phase HPLC assay was carried out on an Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC system with Diode-Array Detector. The chromatographic column used was an Aeri 3.6-μm WIDEPORE XB-C18 200-Å, LC Column 250 × 4.6 mm2 behind a securityGuard ULTRA cartridge (Phenomenex). Globin chains were separated using a gradient program of 41–47% solvent B (acetonitrile) mixed with solvent A (0.1% trifluoroacetic acid in HPLC-grade water at pH 2.9), and quantified by the area under the curve (AUC) of the corresponding peaks in the reverse-phase HPLC chromatogram.