Figure 2. Ablation of Ctsk in hematopoietic cells (Mx1;Ctsk^fl/fl) and osteoclasts (CD11b;Ctsk^fl/fl) suppresses Ctsk expression.

(A and D) PCR of genomic DNA from spleen showed the deletion of Ctsk exon (Δ). (B and E) qRT-PCR analysis of Ctsk showed a decrease in Ctsk mRNA expression in bone and osteoclasts (OC), but not osteoblasts (OB). (C and F) Western blot analysis of cathepsin K in protein lysates from osteoclasts derived from Mx1;Ctsk^fl/fl or CD11b;Ctsk^fl/fl mice and controls. The gels in A, C, D, and F show samples from multiple animals per condition. Results are mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 versus controls.