Kindlin-3–deficient HSCs home to the BM. (A) Frequency of CFU-Cs in sorted CD45.2⁺ BM cells from chimeras 4 mo after transplantation. Mean cell counts ± SD. P = 0.8857 by Mann-Whitney test. n = 4 per genotype; three independent experiments. (B) LTC-IC assay performed with donor-derived BM-MNCs from chimeras 4 mo after transplantation. The percentage of wells without CFUs is plotted against the MNC number. The frequency of LTC-ICs is shown. P = 0.0965 by Pearson’s χ² test. n = 4 per genotype; three independent experiments. (C) Representative FACS plots of BM HSPCs 1–13 mo after transplantation analyzed with signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) markers. The left panels show c-kit and Sca-1 expression on lin⁻ cells. Numbers refer to the percentages of live leukocytes ± SD. n = 24–27 per genotype; 10 independent experiments. (D) Quantification of C. LSK (P > 0.05 by unpaired t test); LSK CD150⁻CD48⁺ (*, P = 0.0121 by unpaired t test); LSK CD150⁺CD48⁺ (***, P < 0.0001 by unpaired t test); LSK CD150⁺CD48⁻ (***, P < 0.0001 by Mann-Whitney test); LSK CD150⁺CD48⁻CD34⁺ (***, P = 0.0003 by unpaired t test); and LSK CD150⁺CD48⁻CD34⁻ cells (***, P < 0.0001 by Mann-Whitney test). Mean cell numbers ± SD are given. (E) Representative FACS plots of BM LSK cells at the indicated time after transplantation gated for CD150 against CD48. Numbers represent mean percentage ± SD of events within the LSK population. n = 3–11 per genotype and time point; three independent experiments. (F and G) Quantification at the indicated time after transplantation of BM LSK CD150⁺CD48⁻ (1 mo: P = 0.4278; 4 mo and 9–13 mo: ***, P < 0.0001 by unpaired t test; F) and LSK CD150⁺CD48⁻CD34⁻ cells (1 mo: P = 0.4642 by Mann-Whitney test; 4 mo: ***, P = 0.0005 by unpaired t test; 9–13 mo: **, P = 0.002 by unpaired t test; G). Cells are shown as mean percentage ± SD. n = 6–10 per genotype; four independent experiments. ns, not significant.