Conditional Knockout of Integrin α2β1 in Murine Megakaryocytes Leads to Reduced Mean Platelet Volume
Figure 3
Comparison of Pf4-Cre(neg);α2flox/flox mice (f/f), heterozygous Pf4-Cre(neg);α2+/flox mice (f/−) and α2-cKO mice (−/−).
(A) Detection by western blot of α2 integrin in equivalent total protein samples from mononuclear cells (1, 2), platelets (3 – 6), lung (7, 8) and spleen (9, 10). Purified proteins were analyzed from f/f mice (1,3,7,9), f/− mice (5) and −/− mice (2,4,6,8,10). (B,C) Platelet parameters. Platelet count (B) and MPV (C) were measured in peripheral whole blood from f/f, f/− and −/− mice. The mean +/− SD are depicted (n = 6 in each case). The difference in MPV between f/f and −/− mice was statistically significant (p<0.01) (*).