A brief review of the biology of megakaryocytes and platelets and their role in thrombosis associated with particulate air pollution

Air pollution is a worldwide public health issue and it is associated with millions of premature deaths due to cancer, thrombosis, and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Thrombosis is the excessive clotting that blocks a blood vessel, and its etiology is multifactorial. In recent years, growing...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxicology and Industrial Health 2021-03, Vol.37 (3), p.164-172
Main Authors: Gonzalez-Villalva, Adriana, Bizarro-Nevares, Patricia, Rojas-Lemus, Marcela, Ustarroz-Cano, Martha, López-Valdez, Nelly, García-Peláez, Isabel, Albarrán-Alonso, Juan Carlos, Barbosa-Barrón, Fernanda, Fortoul, Teresa I
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air pollution
Biology
Blood vessels
Bone marrow
Cardiovascular diseases
Clotting
Coagulation
Etiology
Hemostasis
Hemostatics
Inflammation
Lung cancer
Lung diseases
Lungs
Megakaryocytes
Metals
Morphology
Outdoor air quality
Oxidative stress
Particulate emissions
Particulate matter
Platelets
Public health
Thromboembolism
Thrombosis
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Summary:Air pollution is a worldwide public health issue and it is associated with millions of premature deaths due to cancer, thrombosis, and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Thrombosis is the excessive clotting that blocks a blood vessel, and its etiology is multifactorial. In recent years, growing evidence has linked air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM) and metals, to the development of thrombosis. PM and metals induce lung and systemic inflammation and oxidative stress that are frequent mechanisms in thrombosis. Platelets are important effectors of physiological hemostasis and pathological thrombosis. They are responsible for the formation of the initial plug and are important in the cellular model of coagulation. Therefore, any changes in their morphology or function or an increase in activation could be extremely relevant in thrombosis. Megakaryocytes (MKs) in the bone marrow and in the lungs are the precursor cells of platelets, and the latter is the first organ injured by air pollution. There is substantial evidence of the effect that PM and metals have on platelets, but there is almost no research about the effect of PM and metals on MKs. It is very likely that the alterations produced by air pollution originate in these cells. In this article, we review the biology of MKs and platelets and their role in particulate air pollution-related thrombosis to emphasize the need for further research in this field.
ISSN:0748-2337
1477-0393
DOI:10.1177/0748233720986352