Long-term induction of TRF1 deletion results in BMF and reduced overall survival. (A) Peripheral blood counts measured once a month of TRF1flox/floxMx1-wt and TRF1flox/floxMx1-Cre mice during Cre long-term induction via pI-pC. No statistical difference was found at day 0 in all the subpopulations between TRF1flox/floxMx1-wt and TRF1flox/floxMx1-Cre mice (all P > .05). At 4 and 8 weeks after starting Cre induction, all TRF1flox/floxMx1-Cre mice showed statistically significant lower peripheral blood counts (all P < .005) except for hemoglobin levels (P = .08 and P = .07 at week +4 and +8, respectively). Two-sided t test was used for statistical comparison. (B) Exemplary hematoxylin and eosin staining of the sternal bone marrow of a TRF1flox/floxMx1-wt and TRF1flox/floxMx1-Cre animal 13 and 8 weeks, respectively, after the start of Cre induction. Image was captured with ×10 magnification (blue bar represents 200 μm), small image shows ×40 magnification. (C) Overall survival of TRF1flox/floxMx1-wt and TRF1flox/floxMx1-Cre mice undergoing long-term Cre induction. Dashed line represents median survival. Log-rank test was used for statistical comparison.
