Fig. 8: Mice with TGFβRII deleted specifically in mesenchymal lineage cells have decreased numbers of TCNs in BM and increased bone mass.

a WB of bone protein lysates from 3- (young) and 15-mon-old (old) TGFβRII^fl/fl (WT) and 15-mon-old TGFβRII^fl/fl;Prx1^Cre (TRII-cKO) mice. b, c Frequencies (b) and numbers (c) of Ly6C^-6G⁺ cells in TGFβ1⁺CD11b⁺ myeloid cells in BM from 15-mon-old WT and TRII-cKO mice. Mean ± SD (n = 5 biologically independent male mice/group). d Ly6C^hi6G^- cells in TGFβ1⁺CD11b⁺ myeloid cells in BM from 15-mon-old WT and TRII-cKO mice. Mean ± SD (n = 5 biologically independent male mice/group). e Representative images of coronal sections of T12-L2 vertebrae and 3D reconstruction of trabecular bone in L1 from TβRII-cKO and WT mice. Bar = 1 mm. f Trabecular bone volume, number, thickness, and separation in L1 from WT and TRII-cKO mice. Mean ± SD (n = 3 female and 5 male biologically independent mice/group). g Sagittal sections and 3D reconstruction of trabecular bone in femora from TRII-cKO and WT mice. Bar = 1 mm. h Trabecular bone volume, number, thickness, and separation within the area 1 mm beneath the growth plate in WT and TRII-cKO mice. Mean ± SD (n = 3 female and 4 male biologically independent mice/group). i Horizontal cross sections of cortical bones of L1. j Measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and (k) cortical bone thickness. Mean ± SD (n = 3 female and 5 male biologically independent mice/group). l Cross sections of femoral cortices, and BMD values (m) and cortical bone thickness (n). Mean ± SD (n = 3 female and 4 male biologically independent mice/group). o, p Mineral apposition rate (MAR) and bone formation rate (BFR). Mean ± SD (n = 3 female and 4 male biologically independent mice/group). q Osteoblast surface (Ob.S/B.S) from H&E-stained paraffin sections of L3 vertebrae. Bar = 20 μm. Mean ± SD (n = 3 female and 5 male biologically independent mice/group). r Serum levels of osteocalcin tested using ELISA. Mean ± SD (n = 5 biologically independent male mice/group). s, t Osteoclast surface (Oc.S/B.S) and number (Oc.N/B.S) from TRAP-stained paraffin sections. Mean ± SD (n = 3 female and 5 male biologically independent mice/group). u TRACP-5b levels in serum samples in (s) were tested using ELISA. Mean ± SD (n = 5 biologically independent male mice/group). Analyses: Student’s two-sided unpaired t test. Source data are provided as a Source data file.