p38α deletion in osteoblasts affects the expression of osteogenic markers.

<p>(A) Graphs show fibroblast-colony forming units (CFU-F) (upper panel) and osteoblast-colony forming units (Ob-CFU) of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow of FF and KO long bones (n = 9 per genotype). Representative images are also shown. (B&C) qRT-PCR of mRNA extracted from calvariae (B) and long bones (bone-marrow flushed out tibiae and femurs) (C) of 12-week-old mice (n = 4 (KO) and 8 (FF) independent animals). (D) Protein levels of OSX and p38α were decreased in calvaria from knockout mice. Left panel: western blot of calvarial bones showing Osterix (OSX), RUNX2, p38α and alpha-TUBULIN as control. Right panel: graph depicting densitometric analysis of western blots (n = 3(KO) and 6(FF)) (*p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001).