Cell purification and transplantation of NSγ mice. (A-E) NSγ mice were transplanted with ALDHbr CD34+ cells prepared from CB that had been depleted of mature, lineage-marked cells (Linneg CB). Total CB has a low content of CD34+ progenitors (A), and these progenitors are enriched in Linneg CB (B). Enzyme-inhibited Linneg cells (treated with diethyl aminobenzaldehyde) were used to establish baseline fluorescence for ALDH and to establish sorting gates to purify ALDHbr CD34+ cells (C). ALDHbr CD34+ cells were purified from lineage-depleted CB (D), and each cell preparation was purified twice before cell transplantation (E). (F-I) After transplantation, the human hematopoietic chimerism was monitored based on the number of human CD45+ cells detected per microliter of peripheral blood. Without human hematopoietic engraftment, the peripheral blood contained only murine CD45+ cells (F). With engraftment, human CD45+ cells are present within the peripheral blood (G). In short-term studies (≤ 10 weeks), the human CD45+ cells within the blood are predominantly CD19+ (H). Using these methods, a history of human hematopoietic engraftment could be established for each transplantation assay (I). One cohort of mice that were transplanted with progenitors derived from a single CB that were transplanted into multiple different mice at multiple different cell doses.