Fibrinogen γ-Chain mRNA Is Not Detected In Human Megakaryocytes

Human megakaryocytes and platelets contain counterparts of several plasma proteins. The origin of most of these α-granule proteins is unclear. Fibrinogen represents one of those molecules, being essential in hemostasis, thrombosis, and platelet aggregation. To study whether fibrinogen is endocytosed...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Blood 1991-07, Vol.78 (1), p.20-25
Main Authors: Lange, Winand, Luig, Andreas, Dolken, Gottfried, Mertelsmann, Roland, Kanz, Lothar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Base Sequence
Cytoplasmic Granules - chemistry
DNA - analysis
DNA - genetics
Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
Fibrinogen - genetics
Fibrinogen - metabolism
Flow Cytometry - methods
Humans
Megakaryocytes - chemistry
Molecular Sequence Data
Plasma - chemistry
Plasma - metabolism
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Messenger - analysis
RNA, Messenger - genetics
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Summary:Human megakaryocytes and platelets contain counterparts of several plasma proteins. The origin of most of these α-granule proteins is unclear. Fibrinogen represents one of those molecules, being essential in hemostasis, thrombosis, and platelet aggregation. To study whether fibrinogen is endocytosed by megakaryocytes and packaged into α-granules or newly synthesized by these cells, we established a highly sensitive nested primer polymerase chain reaction for the detection of human fibrinogen γ-chain mRNA. In enriched megakaryocyte fractions, as well as fluorescence-activated cell sorter-purified megakaryocytes from bone marrow samples of healthy volunteers, no fibrinogen γ-chain mRNA could be detected, despite the presence of the corresponding fibrinogen γ-chain DNA. We conclude that fibrinogen γ-chain mRNA, as detectable by our amplification system, is missing in megakaryocytes. This finding suggests that fibrinogen might be acquired from plasma by endocytosis and sequestered in α-granules before reentering the circulation after platelet activation.
ISSN:0006-4971
1528-0020
DOI:10.1182/blood.V78.1.20.20