Bcl-2 family proteins in neonatal vs adult platelets. (A) Apoptosis-related proteins were quantified in freshly isolated purified human neonatal and adult platelets by western blot assay. The expression levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bak, Bax, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3 are shown in representative western blots from 4 independent CB and 4 independent PB samples. The bars represent the mean ± SD concentrations of these proteins in 8 independent CB (open bars) and 8 PB samples (filled bars), expressed as the ratio to β actin. ***P < .001. (B) Expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were evaluated in neonatal and adult mouse platelets by flow cytometry. Representative histograms show Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL mean fluorescent intensity (MFI) levels in murine neonatal vs adult platelets. The bars represent the mean ± SD MFI measurements from neonatal (n = 11) and adult (n = 8) murine platelets. *P < .05.
