Expression of red cell surface antigens during erythropoiesis
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Updated: Oct 13, 2026

Identification and Analysis of Mouse Erythroid Progenitors using the CD71/TER119 Flow-cytometric Assay
Published on: August 5, 2011
Background And Objectives:
We have analysed the appearance and disappearance of cell surface markers during erythropoiesis, in vitro.
Materials And Methods:
CD34+ haemopoietic progenitor cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and cultured by three different methods, all in the presence of erythropoietin. The methods included two one-stage techniques, one serum-free, the other with serum present, and one serum-present two-stage method.
Results:
The appearance of cell surface markers on the differentiating erythroid cells varied slightly from sample to sample, but differed more substantially between techniques, with the cells differentiating more rapidly in the culture media containing serum. The order of appearance of the markers, which was constant in the three methods, was as follows: glycophorin C, Kell, Rh-associated glycoprotein, glycophorin A, band 3, Rh proteins, and glycophorin B.
Conclusion:
Cell surface antigens can be used as markers for mapping the progress of erythroid differentiation during erythropoiesis.
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