Analysis of splenic iron content, and ferritin and ferroportin expression of mice with tissue-specific versus total IRP2 deficiency. (A) Total nonheme iron levels and Western blot analysis of (B) ferritin H- (indicated FTH1) and L- (indicated FTL) chain expression and of (C) ferroportin (indicated FPN) in the spleen of Ireb2^Δ/Δ mice lacking IRP2 expression in all tissues (total) versus Ireb2^+/+ littermates, and in Ireb2^VilCre, Ireb2^AlfpCre, and Ireb2^LysMCre mice with selective IRP2 ablation in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), hepatocytes (hepat.), or macrophages (macro.), respectively, versus their corresponding control littermates; the presence (+) or absence (−) of the Cre transgene is indicated. (A) Data are presented as average plus or minus SEM. Within each group, the iron level of control mice was set to 100%. Top histogram represents male mice; bottom, female mice. The number of animals per group (n) is indicated. P: Student t test. (B,C) Representative Western blots are shown. The slight variation in FTH1, FTL, and FPN levels in Ireb2^AlfpCre(−) versus Ireb2^AlfpCre(+) mice reflects interindividual variability but not a difference between groups. β-Actin was used as a loading control. Vertical lines have been inserted to indicate repositioned gel lanes.