Fig. 4

RT-PCR for sensitive detection of PDX cells in PBPCs and respective relative PBPC and CD34⁺ cell recoveries. C_q values for PHOX2B (A), TH (B) and DDC (C) of input samples (grey dots), respective center (dots) and side (diamonds) fractions when aiming for complete PDX cell removal from the graft (red symbols) or high CD34⁺ cell recovery (i.e., < 15% loss, orange symbols, n = 3, mean ± SD). The detection limit (grey area) is based on respective C_q values from non-spiked PBPCs (0% PDX cells, solid line) and Cq values from PDX-1 mark the C_q,max (100% PDX cells, solid line). Statistically significant differences are indicated as **P < 0.01 and ****P < 0.0001 (one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test), non-significant differences are indicated as ns. (D) Relative recovery in side outlets [%] for PBPCs and CD34⁺ cells determined by flow cytometry for RT-PCR experiments (n = 3, mean ± SD)