Blast-forming units erythroid (BFU-E)–derived colony α-globin chain synthesis in cultures from in vivo butyrate responsive sickle cell disease patients.

A: Effect of in vitro butyrate on pretreatment colonies. B: Effect of in vitro butyrate on colonies initiated 24 hours after in vivo butyrate infusions began. C: Comparison of pretreatment colonies and colonies initiated 24 hours after in vivo butyrate therapy began, both cultured in vitro in the absence of butyrate. Open symbols are cultures from individual sickle cell disease patients. Each data point is the mean ± 1 SD of triplicate cultures. Solid line represents the mean of all cultures.