Fig. 1: Kindlin-2 is highly expressed in β-cells and Kindlin-2 loss results in a growth retardation in mice.

a Immunofluorescent (IF) staining. Sections of 2-month-old mouse pancreas were stained with anti-Kindlin-2 antibody, anti-insulin antibody, or anti-glucagon antibody (Sigma, G2654). Scale bar, 20 or 50 μm as indicated. b IF staining of 2- (left) and 20-month-old (right) mouse pancreatic sections with Kindlin-2 antibody. Scale bar, 50 μm. c IF of pancreatic sections from mice treated with normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) with Kindlin-2 antibody. Scale bar, 50 μm. d Quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses. Total RNAs isolated from the indicated tissues of 2-month-old male K2-RIP mice or control littermates (RIP-Cre) were subjected to qPCR analyses for Kindlin-2 expression. Kindlin-2 mRNA was normalized to Gapdh mRNA. Statistical analyses (Student’s t test) were performed using the average values of triplicates from three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, versus control. e, f Western blot analyses. Protein extracts isolated from the indicated tissues of 2-month-old male K2-RIP mice or control littermates (RIP-Cre) were subjected to Western blot analyses for Kindlin-2 expression. α-Tubulin was used as a loading control. Quantitative data (f). Statistical analyses (Student’s t test) were performed using the average values of triplicates from three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, versus control. g IF staining of pancreatic sections of 2-month-old male K2-RIP mice or control littermates (RIP-Cre) with Kindlin-2 antibody. Scale bar, 50 μm. h Gross appearance of 2-month-old male K2-RIP mice and control littermates (RIP-Cre). i Animal growth curve. N = 12 for control, N = 11 mice K2-RIP, *P < 0.05, versus control, Student’s t test. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Source data for d–f are provided as a Source Data file.