Fig. 1: Nf2 knockout in skeletal MSC impaired cranial bones development.
From: Nf2-FAK signaling axis is critical for cranial bone ossification and regeneration
a Nf2 gene coding protein merlin was expressed in various tissues at embryonic 18.5 stage (upper panel, n = 3), as well as the embryonic 18.5 and postnatal (P3, P7, P14) skull tissues (lower panel, n = 3). b Nf2-cKO using Prx1-Cre resulted in severe birth defects in head shape and limbs, and skeletal staining (c) and micro-CT (d) showed Nf2-cKO led to serious deformities in frontal and parietal bones. The distance between two frontal bones (c, red arrow) were significantly wide, and the distances (c, black arrow) between nasal bone and coronal suture were notably enlarged in Nf2 mutant compared to the control (n = 3) at E18.5 and P1. e 3D reconstruction from micro-CT images of cranial bones from E18.5 control (n = 8) and Nf2-cKO (n = 8). Isolated frontal bone (h) and parietal bone (j) from E18.5 control and Nf2-cKO mice. i, k Quantification of the size (length and width) of frontal bone (i1–3) and parietal bone (k1–3) of E18.5 control and Nf2-cKO (n = 8). f, g Quantification of the volume, volume ratio, and surface defect area ratio of the frontal (f1–3) and parietal bone (g1–3) from E18.5 controls and Nf2-cKO (n = 8). Scale bar=50 μm in (b, c) and 1 mm in (d, e, h, j). Data were expressed as means ± SD and each dot represents an individual biological replicate. P values were calculated by unpaired Student’s t-test with two-tailed analysis without adjustments. ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05. P-A: Posterior to Anterior. Definition of landmarks in frontal bone: 1 most anterior-superior point of the frontal bone; 2. most posterior-superior point of the frontal bone; 3. most posterior-lateral intersection of the frontal bone and parietal bone. Definition of landmarks in parietal bone: 1. most anterior-superior point of the frontal bone; 2. Most anterior-lateral point of the parietal bone; 3. most posterior-superior point of the frontal bone; 4. most posterior-lateral intersection of the parietal bone and interparietal bone. Abbreviation: Fb, frontal bone; Pb, parietal bone; iPb, interparietal bone; nb, nasal bone; mx, maxilla; md, mandible. Ob, occipital bone.
