MCPIP1^-/- mice developed severe anemia.

<p>Peripheral red blood cell count was performed on 6 weeks old MCPIP1^+/+ and MCPIP1^-/- mice (A). The hind limb bones were shown and the total bone marrow cells from both femurs and tibias were further counted (B). The femur bone marrow was also stained with H.E. (C). The bone marrow cells were stained with Ter119 and CD71, and gated to G1~G4. The percentages of these gates were compared between the MCPIP1^+/+ and MCPIP1^-/- mice (D). The Ter119 and CD71 double positive cells were further stained with active caspase-3 (E) and 7-AAD (F). The active caspase-3⁺ cells and the cell cycle stages were statically analyzed. N=5~6. *P<0.05.</p

MCPIP1^-/- mice developed autoimmune gastritis, parietal cell loss and VB₁₂ deficiency.

<p>The stomach mucosa of MCPIP1^+/+ and MCPIP1^-/- mice was performed with H.E. staining (A) and immunofluorescent staining of IgG (red) and DAPI (blue) (400×, B). The 6 weeks old MCPIP1^-/- mice were supplemented with iron dextrin with or without VB₁₂. 7 days later the peripheral blood smear Giemsa-Wright staining was performed (C, arrowheads indicate the megaloblastic RBCs found only in the iron supplementation group) and the spleens, femurs and tibias were shown (D). Data represent 1 of at least 3 independent experiments. </p

MCPIP1 deficiency did not compromise erythropoiesis <i>per</i><i>se</i>.

<p>Reticulocyte percentage of the MCPIP1^+/+ and MCPIP1^-/- peripheral blood was analyzed with flow cytometry (A). Spleens of these mice were shown and stained with H.E. (B). The splenocytes were also analyzed with Ter119/CD71 staining and the erythroblasts were gated from G1 to G4 (C). The bone marrow cells and splenocytes were also cultured <i>in </i><i>vitro</i> to analyze the colony formation of CFU-es and BFU-es (D). MCPIP1^+/+ and MCPIP^-/- plasma EPO concentration was analyzed with ELISA (E). N=4~6, *P<0.05. </p

Supplementation with iron and VB₁₂ greatly improved anemia in MCPIP1^-/- mice.

<p>MCPIP1^-/- mice were treated with iron or combined iron plus VB₁₂ for 7 days. Then, the bone marrow erythroblast Ter119/CD71 gating (A), active caspase-3 staining (B) and cell cycle analysis (C) were performed. The peripheral red blood cell count was also performed on the iron and VB₁₂ treated MCPIP1^-/- mice compared with the MCPIP1^+/+ ones (D). N=3~4, *P<0.05 versus MCPIP1^+/+ group. </p