Figure 5.

Caspase-2 deficiency enhances aneuploidy and DNA damage in primary BM cells with ageing. (a) Representative fluorescent images (magnification of 100 ×) of DAPI-stained metaphase spreads, with chromosome counts indicated, from aged WT (n=4) and aged Casp2^−/− (n=4) BM cells. (b) Quantitation of metaphases showing frequencies of diploid and aneuploid karyotypes in BM cells from aged WT (n=4) and Casp2^−/− (n=4) mice. A total of 50 metaphase spreads were counted per mouse. Data represented as mean±S.E.M. and *P<0.05, χ² test. (c) Table indicating actual chromosome numbers from aged WT and aged Casp2^−/− BM cells showing reduced cells with diploid number of chromosomes indicated (shaded) and increased aneuploidy in Casp2^−/− BM cells. (d) Representative fluorescent images (magnification of63 ×) of phospho-histone H2AX (Ser139)-stained BM cells from aged WT (n=4) and aged Casp2^−/− (n=4) mice. Arrows highlight cells with multiple γH2AX foci. Scale bar=10 μM. (e) Quantitation of phospho-histone H2AX-positive nuclei of BM cells from aged WT (n=4) and Casp2^−/− (n=4) mice. Data represented as mean±S.E.M. and *P<0.05