mTOR deletion inhibits the ability of progenitors to differentiate into monocytes/macrophages. (A) 5 × 10⁴ GMPs purified from tamoxifen-treated WT and ER-mTOR KO mice were seeded in methylcellulose supplemented with IL-3, IL-6, SCF, and M-CSF. The experiment was performed in triplicate and was photographed as the pictures presented. Scale bars represent 100 µm. The generated colonies (B) and the macrophage cell number per colony (C) were calculated. Data are representative of 3 independent experiments. (D) The CD115 expression on progenitors of tamoxifen-treated WT and ER-mTOR KO mice was examined by flow cytometry. Plots shown were the gated Lin⁻sca-1⁻c-kit⁺ cells. The cell percentages (E) and cell numbers (F) of Lin⁻sca-1⁻c-kit⁻CD34⁺CD115⁺ cells in WT and ER-mTOR KO bone marrow were detected. (G) The CD115 molecule expression were shown. (H) The MFI of CD115 expression was counted. (I) The CD115 expression in blood, peritoneal cavity, spleen, and bone marrow in WT and ER-mTOR KO mice was examined by flow cytometry. The decreased percentages (J) and cell numbers (K) of CD115⁺ cells in blood, peritoneal cavity, spleen, and bone marrow in WT and ER-mTOR KO mice were observed. (L) The CD115 expression on CD11b⁺ cells of WT and Lyzs-mTOR KO mice was examined by flow cytometry. (M) The normal percentages of CD115⁺ cells in blood and bone marrow in WT and Lyzs-mTOR KO mice were observed. Each group represents 3 independent experiments. Data were expressed as mean ± SD (n = 6). *P < .05; **P < .01; ***P < .001 compared with WT control mice.