Telomerase expression and activity of normal and splenic MF CD34⁺cells. (A) The protein level of hTERT in primary splenic MF and normal CD34⁺ cells was determined by western blotting with an antibody raised against the hTERT. (B) Densitometric analysis of western blots as represented by panel A shows a similar level of hTERT in primary MF splenic and normal CD34⁺ cells. MF: n = 5; CB: n = 3. P > .05, MF vs CB. (C) RT-PCR–based assay for TA in primary splenic MF and normal CB CD34⁺ cells. The higher the Ct value indicates the lower the TA. MF: n = 8; CB: n = 3. P > .05, MF vs CB. (D) Flow-FISH analysis of telomere length of primary splenic MF and normal CB CD34⁺, CD34⁺CD38⁻ and CD34⁺CD38⁺ cells. The higher telomere fluorescence intensity, the longer telomere. MF: n = 7; CB: n = 4. ***P = .001, **P < .01, ^P = .19. (E-F) RT-PCR–based assay for TA in splenic MF (E) and normal (F) CD34⁺ cells following the treatment with MM or Ime (7.5 μM) for 7 days. The treatment of MF splenic but not CB CD34⁺ cells with Ime resulted in a decrease in TA as compared with the treatment with MM. MF and CB: n both = 6. MF: P < .05; CB: P = .87, MM vs Ime.