Mature megakaryocytes acquire immune characteristics in a mouse model of aplastic anemia.

ABSTRACT:

Abstract

Megakaryocytes (MKs) serve diverse roles beyond platelet production, including hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and immune response modulation. In our mouse model of immune bone marrow failure (BMF), we observed the unexpected persistence of MKs despite thrombocytopenia. These MKs exhibited heightened expression of immune activation markers, such as IA-IE and CD53, compared with MKs from healthy controls. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis (scRNA-seq) revealed upregulation of immune response pathways and downregulation of pathways related to platelet function and homeostasis in MKs from animals with marrow failure (BMF). Electron microscopy demonstrated that these MKs had fewer cytoplasmic extensions, reduced α-granules, and a less developed demarcation membrane system

SUBMITTER: Prabahran A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12268570 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature