Naslov
Microtubule and cortical forces determine platelet size during vascular platelet production

Autori
Thon, Jonathan N. ; Macleod, H. ; Jurak Begonja, Antonija ; Zhu, J. ; Lee, K.C. ; Mogilner, A. ; Hartwig, John H. ; Italiano, Joeseph, E. Jr.

Izvornik
Nature communications (2041-1723) 3 (2012); 852-1

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
megakaryocytes; platelets; microtubules

Sažetak
Megakaryocytes release large preplatelet intermediates into the sinusoidal blood vessels. Preplatelets convert into barbell-shaped proplatelets in vitro to undergo repeated abscissions that yield circulating platelets. These observations predict the presence of circular-preplatelets and barbell-proplatelets in blood, and two fundamental questions in platelet biology are what are the forces that determine barbell-proplatelet formation, and how is the final platelet size established. Here we provide insights into the terminal mechanisms of platelet production. We quantify circular-preplatelets and barbell-proplatelets in human blood in high-resolution fluorescence images, using a laser scanning cytometry assay. We demonstrate that force constraints resulting from cortical microtubule band diameter and thickness determine barbell-proplatelet formation. Finally, we provide a mathematical model for the preplatelet to barbell conversion. We conclude that platelet size is limited by microtubule bundling, elastic bending, and actin-myosin-spectrin cortex forces.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA