Additional file 2: Figure S1. of Increased serum levels of fractalkine and mobilisation of CD34+CD45− endothelial progenitor cells in systemic sclerosis

Gating strategy of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by flow cytometry. CD34+CD45+ haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and CD34+CD45− EPCs were identified within 7-AAD-negative viable (a), CD34+ cells (b), with CD45dim or CD45− expression (c), and displaying forward scatter (FS)/side scatter (SS) characteristics corresponding to the lymphocyte cluster (d, e). Non-specific binding of CD34-PE antibody is checked on CD34+CD45+ (f) and CD34+CD45− gate of each sample (g) by means of a control tube in which CD34-PE antibody is replaced by its isoclonic control. LYMPH Lymphocytes. Figure S2. CFU-EC count in the peripheral venous blood of healthy control subjects (HC) and patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Number (n) of CFU-ECs was determined after cell culture of MNCs. ** P < 0.005. (PDF 311 kb