Panel A shows bar graphs of Rxra and Rxrb relative mRNA expression across embryonic fetal monocytes, prealveolar macrophages, and postnatal alveolar macrophage developmental stages. Panel B shows representative flow cytometry plots gated on live CD45 positive single cells identifying prealveolar macrophages, mature alveolar macrophages, and immature alveolar macrophages at different developmental timepoints in control and Cd11cCre positive Rxrab deficient mice. Panel C shows bar graphs quantifying total numbers of prealveolar macrophages, mature alveolar macrophages, and immature alveolar macrophages per milligram tissue across postnatal developmental stages in both genotypes.
RXRs are necessary for postnatal AM maturation. (A) Rxra and Rxrb relative mRNA expression at different AM developmental stages, from embryonic fetal monocytes and preAMs to postnatal populations. n = 4–6 samples from four pooled mice; data are representative from two independent experiments. (B) Representative flow cytometry plots gated on alive CD45+ cells showing the expression of maturity markers in postnatal preAM and AM populations from Rxrabfl/fl and Cd11cCre+Rxrabfl/fl mice. (C) Total numbers of the populations in B. n = 6–10 mice per genotype and stage; data are from two pooled independent experiments. All data are shown as means ± SEM; *P ≤ 0.05; **P ≤ 0.01; ****P ≤ 0.0001; (A) two-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test; (C) unpaired Student t test.