Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Subscribe

Sci. Signal., 30 October 2012
Vol. 5, Issue 248, p. ra78
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.2002936]

RESEARCH ARTICLES

Editor's Summary

Controlling Platelet Production
Megakaryocytes reside in the bone marrow, where they produce platelets, cell fragments that form clots to prevent blood loss at sites of damage to the vasculature. Platelets and megakaryocytes share many activating receptors on their surface, but unlike platelets, megakaryocytes fail to become activated when exposed to components of the extracellular matrix. Mazharian et al. found that mice deficient in the immunoreceptor tyrosine–based inhibition motif–containing receptor G6b-B had fewer and larger platelets than did their wild-type counterparts. In addition, G6b-B–deficient mice exhibited increased bleeding in response to damage and had activated megakaryocytes, which resulted in the production of defective platelets. Together, these data suggest that G6b-B dampens activating signals in megakaryocytes to enable the generation of the appropriate number of functional platelets.

Citation: A. Mazharian, Y.-J. Wang, J. Mori, D. Bem, B. Finney, S. Heising, P. Gissen, J. G. White, M. C. Berndt, E. E. Gardiner, B. Nieswandt, M. R. Douglas, R. D. Campbell, S. P. Watson, Y. A. Senis, Mice Lacking the ITIM-Containing Receptor G6b-B Exhibit Macrothrombocytopenia and Aberrant Platelet Function. Sci. Signal. 5, ra78 (2012).

Read the Full Text

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
SHPing in different directions in platelet production.
J. Di Paola (2013)
Blood 121, 4018-4019
   Full Text »    PDF »
Megakaryocyte-specific deletion of the protein-tyrosine phosphatases Shp1 and Shp2 causes abnormal megakaryocyte development, platelet production, and function.
A. Mazharian, J. Mori, Y.-J. Wang, S. Heising, B. G. Neel, S. P. Watson, and Y. A. Senis (2013)
Blood 121, 4205-4220
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Science Signaling Podcast: 30 October 2012.
Y. A. Senis and A. M. VanHook (2012)
Science Signaling 5, pc24
   Abstract »    Full Text »

To Advertise     Find Products

Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882