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Bone marrow niche in immune thrombocytopenia: a focus on megakaryopoiesis

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Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by increased bleeding tendency and thrombocytopenia. In fact, the precise pathogenesis of this disease is still not clear. Megakaryopoiesis involves complete differentiation of megakaryocyte (MK) progenitors to functional platelets. This complex process occurs in specific bone marrow (BM) niches composed of several hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cell types, soluble factors, and extracellular matrix proteins. These specialized microenvironments sustain MK maturation and localization to sinusoids as well as platelet release into circulation. However, MKs in ITP patients show impaired maturation and signs of degradation. Intrinsic defects in MKs and their extrinsic environment have been implicated in altered megakaryopoiesis in this disease. In particular, aberrant expression of miRNAs directing MK proliferation, differentiation, and platelet production; defective MK apoptosis; and reduced proliferation and differentiation rate of the MSC compartment observed in these patients may account for BM defects in ITP. Furthermore, insufficient production of thrombopoietin is another likely reason for ITP development. Therefore, identifying the signaling pathways and transcription factors influencing the interaction between MKs and BM niche in ITP patients will contribute to increased platelet production in order to prevent incomplete MK maturation and destruction as well as BM fibrosis and apoptosis in ITP. In this review, we will examine the interaction and role of BM niches in orchestrating megakaryopoiesis in ITP patients and discuss how these factors can be exploited to improve the quality of patient treatment and prognosis.

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Acknowledgments

This paper is issued from thesis of Elahe Khodadi, MSc student of hematology and blood banking. This work was financially supported by grant TH94/1 from vice chancellor for research affairs of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Research Institute, Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathy Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

    Elaheh Khodadi, Ali Amin Asnafi, Mohammad Shahjahani & Najmaldin Saki

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    Saeid Shahrabi

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  1. Elaheh Khodadi
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  2. Ali Amin Asnafi
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  3. Saeid Shahrabi
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Correspondence to Najmaldin Saki.

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N.S. conceived the manuscript and revised it; E.Kh., A.A, and M.Sh. wrote the manuscript. S.Sh. and E.Kh. prepared the figure and tables.

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Khodadi, E., Asnafi, A.A., Shahrabi, S. et al. Bone marrow niche in immune thrombocytopenia: a focus on megakaryopoiesis. Ann Hematol 95, 1765–1776 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-016-2703-1

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