Figure 1

Loss of BCL-2 does not affect platelet survival or platelet production. (a) Western blot analysis of protein lysates from platelets and bone marrow-derived megakaryocytes from Bcl2^fl/fl and Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ mice. Bone marrow progenitor cells were cultured in thrombopoietin (TPO), and mature megakaryocytes were purified on a BSA gradient. Probing for actin was used as a control for protein loading. Each lane represents platelets from an individual mouse. (b) Platelet counts in Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ and Bcl2^fl/fl control mice at 7–10 weeks of age. Each symbol represents an individual mouse. (c) Platelet survival curves in Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ and Bcl2^fl/fl control mice. Platelets were labelled via i.v. injection of a DyLight 488-conjugated anti-CD42c (GPIbβ) Ab. n=3 Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ and n=5 Bcl2^fl/fl mice. Time 0 (100%) was set at 1 h post injection. (d) Morphologically recognisable bone marrow megakaryocytes in H&E-stained sternum sections from Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ and Bcl2^fl/fl control mice. Field of view (FOV). n=22 Bcl2^fl/fl; n=11 Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ mice. (e) Ploidy distribution profile of CD41⁺ bone marrow cells in Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ and Bcl2^fl/fl control mice, as determined by flow cytometry. n=3 Bcl2^fl/fl; n=4 Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ mice. (f) Platelet counts in Bcl2^-/- and Bcl2^+/+ mice at 2–5 weeks of age. Each symbol represents an individual mouse. (g) Morphologically recognisable bone marrow (BM) and spleen megakaryocytes in H&E-stained sections from Bcl2^−/− and Bcl2^+/+ mice at 1–4 weeks of age. n=5 Bcl2^+/+, n=6 Bcl2^-/-mice. (h) Platelet counts in mice treated with anti-platelet serum. n=5–6 Bcl2^fl/fl, n=4 Bcl2^Pf4Δ/Pf4Δ mice per time point (except 96 h, n=2). Data are presented as mean±S.D.