KITLG and multiminicore myopathy: In order to obtain EPC-enriched cell populations and investigate the pathophysiology of MMD, including the role of cytokines in MMD, we developed a method to obtain quality- and quantity-controlled culture of unfractionated mononuclear cells (MNCs)12–14 in the presence of human recombinant stem cell factor (SCF), thrombopoietin, Flt-3 ligand, VEGF, and interleukin-6 (IL-6).