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Megakaryopoiesis and Platelet Biogenesis

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Molecular and Cellular Biology of Platelet Formation

Abstract

Blood platelets are 2–3 um anucleate fragments that are formed from the megakaryocyte cytoplasm and have a distinctive discoid shape. To generate and release platelets, megakaryocytes undergo endomitosis to become polyploid and follow a maturation program that results in the transformation of the bulk of their cytoplasm into multiple long processes called proplatelets. To generate 1000 to 2000 platelets, a megakaryocyte may extend multiple proplatelets, each of which begins as a thick pseudopodia that over time elongates and branches repetitively. Platelets form predominantly at the tips of proplatelets. As platelets mature, their content of organelles and granules is delivered to them in a flow of individual cargo moving from the cell body of the megakaryocyte to the assembling platelets at the proplatelet ends. Platelet generation can be indiscriminately divided into two stages. The first stage takes days to complete and requires megakaryocyte-specific cytokines, such as thrombopoietin. Substantial nuclear proliferation to 16 to 32 × N and expansion of the megakaryocyte cytoplasm occur as the platelet is packed with platelet-specific granules, cytoskeletal proteins, and abundant membrane to complete the platelet assembly phase. The second stage is relatively fast and can be completed in hours. During this phase, megakaryocytes generate platelets by reorganizing their cytoplasm first into proplatelets, then preplatelets, which undergo fission to generate platelets. Each day, 100 billion platelets must be generated from megakaryocytes to sustain the normal platelet count of 2 to 3 × 108/ml.

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  1. Hematology Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Karp Research Bldg. 5th Floor, Room 214, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Joseph E. Italiano Jr.

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  1. Joseph E. Italiano Jr.
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Correspondence to Joseph E. Italiano Jr. .

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  1. Institute of Experimental Biomedicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Harald Schulze

  2. Vascular Biology Programm, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Joseph Italiano

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Italiano, J.E. (2016). Megakaryopoiesis and Platelet Biogenesis. In: Schulze, H., Italiano, J. (eds) Molecular and Cellular Biology of Platelet Formation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39562-3_1

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