Kindlin-2 deletion impairs osteoblastic differentiation in vitro and in bone (a-d) Quantitative IHC analyses on expression of Kindlin-2 (a), Osx (b), Runx2 (c) and Ocn (d) in the proximal tibial metaphysis of WT and cKO mice at P35. Higher magnification images are shown in lower panels. Scale bar: 40 μm. N = 6 for each group. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (s.d.). ∗∗∗P < 0.001 (e-f) Colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU–F) assays, followed by Giemsa staining (e). The number of CFU-F was counted under a microscope (f). N = 3 mice per group (g-h) Colony forming unit-osteoblast (CFU-OB) assays. The number of CFU-OB was counted under a microscope (h). N = 3 mice per group. (i) In vitro osteoblastic differentiation of primary bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), followed by real-time RT-PCR (qPCR) analyses of mRNA levels of osteoblastic marker genes, including Osx, Runx2, Alp, Bsp and Ocn. N = 6 for each group. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (s.d.). ∗∗∗P < 0.001; ns: not significant.