The lung is a site of platelet biogenesis and a reservoir for haematopoietic progenitors.

ABSTRACT: Platelets are critical for haemostasis, thrombosis, and inflammatory responses, but the events that lead to mature platelet production remain incompletely understood. The bone marrow has been proposed to be a major site of platelet production, although there is indirect evidence that the lungs might also contribute to platelet biogenesis. Here, by directly imaging the lung microcirculation in mice, we show that a large number of megakaryocytes circulate through the lungs, where they dynamically release platelets. Megakaryocytes that release platelets in the lungs originate from extrapulmonary sites such as the bone marrow; we observed large megakaryocytes migrating out of the bone marrow space. The contribution of the lungs to platelet biogenesis is substantial, accounting for approximatel

SUBMITTER: Lefrancais E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5663284 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature