Autophagy deficiency inhibited erythroid differentiation. (A) Erythrocyte-related parameters in PB of 8-week-old Atg7^fl/fl and Atg7^fl/fl; Vav-Cre mouse PBMCs. Graphs show erythrocyte number (top left), hematocrit (bottom left), and hemoglobin (top right). Data are presented as means ± SD (n = 3 in each condition, 2 independent experiments; *P < .05 by Student t test). (B) Expression pattern of TER-119 and CD71 within BM cells of 8-week-old Atg7^fl/fl or Atg7^fl/fl; Vav-Cre mice was examined. Dot plot and graph show the frequency of each fraction. Data are presented as means ± SD (n = 3 in each condition, 2 independent experiments; *P < .05 by Student t test). (C) The number of nucleated (+) or enucleated (−) TER-119⁺ cells in bone sections of Atg7^fl/fl and 8-week-old Atg7^fl/fl; Vav-Cre mice was counted based on DAPI staining under a confocal laser microscope. Arrows or an arrowhead point to mature erythrocytes or juvenile nucleated red blood cell (NRBC) in these representative images, respectively. Graph shows the frequency of nucleated or enucleated cells within TER-119⁺ fraction. Data are presented as means ± SD (n = 3 in each condition, 2 independent experiments; *P < .05 by Student t test). (D) PHZ was injected intraperintoneally into 8-week-old WT mice. After 7 days, EdC uptake assay was performed. Histogram and graph show the frequency of EdC⁺ cells. Data are presented as means ± SD (n = 3 in each condition, 2 independent experiments; *P < .05 by Student t test).