Thrombasthenic mice generated by replacement of the integrin alpha(IIb) gene: demonstration that transcriptional activation of this megakaryocytic locus precedes lineage commitment

To analyze the transcriptional activity of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of the platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) during the hematopoietic differentiation, mice were produced in which the herpes virus thymidine kinase (tk) was introduced in this megakaryocytic specific locus using homologous...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Blood 2000-08, Vol.96 (4), p.1399
Main Authors: Tronik-Le Roux, D, Roullot, V, Poujol, C, Kortulewski, T, Nurden, P, Marguerie, G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell Lineage - genetics
Disease Models, Animal
Megakaryocytes - pathology
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Mice, Transgenic
Mutation
Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex - genetics
Thrombasthenia - etiology
Thrombasthenia - genetics
Thrombasthenia - pathology
Transcriptional Activation
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Summary:To analyze the transcriptional activity of the gene encoding the alpha subunit of the platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) during the hematopoietic differentiation, mice were produced in which the herpes virus thymidine kinase (tk) was introduced in this megakaryocytic specific locus using homologous recombination technology. This provided a convenient manner in which to induce the eradication of particular hematopoietic cells expressing the targeted gene. Results of progenitor cell cultures and long-term bone marrow (BM) assays showed that the growth of a subset of stem cells was reduced in the presence of the antiherpetic drug ganciclovir, demonstrating that the activation of the toxic gene occurs before the commitment to the megakaryocytic lineage. Furthermore the knock-in of the tk gene into the alpha(IIb) locus resulted in the knock-out of the alpha(IIb )gene in homozygous mice. Cultures of BM cells of these animals, combined with ultrastructural analysis, established that the alpha(IIb) glycoprotein is dispensable for lineage commitment and megakaryocytic maturation. Platelets collected from alpha(IIb)-deficient mice failed to bind fibrinogen, to aggregate, and to retract a fibrin clot. Moreover, platelet alpha-granules did not contain fibrinogen. Consistent with these characteristics, the mice displayed bleeding disorders similar to those in humans with Glanzmann thrombasthenia. (Blood. 2000;96:1399-1408)
ISSN:0006-4971
DOI:10.1182/blood.v96.4.1399