Figure 2

Runx2 deleted cells have a reduced capacity for regenerative potential in vivo.

(A) qRT-PCR for Runx2 on FACS-purified CD24^high/CD29^high GFP+ cells extracted from K14-Cre:Runx2^wt/wt and K14-Cre:Runx2^fl/fl mice. Gene expression is shown as relative expression to Gapdh (mean ± SD of 3 replicate samples). *p < 0.03 (Unpaired t-test with Welch’s correction). (B) Examples of reconstituted glands harvested 6 weeks-post transplantation from the two cohorts shown as wholemounts. Scale bars represent 1 mm. (C) Pie chart graphs depict percentage outgrowth per individual gland from cleared fat pad transplantation of MMECs extracted from K14-Cre:Runx2^wt/wt (7/10 outgrowth) and K14-Cre:Runx2^fl/fl mice (4/10 outgrowth). 1000 FACS purified CD24^high/CD29^high GFP+ cells were transplanted into the cleared 4^th inguinal fat pad of 3 week old CD1-nude mice. P = 0.187 when testing for a difference between the group-medians (Permutation test). (D) Immunohistochemistry for RUNX2 on reconstituted glands from the two cohorts (K14-Cre:Runx2^wt/wt and K14-Cre:Runx2^fl/fl) showing comparable RUNX2 levels despite reduced levels at transplant. Scale bar represents 30 μm.