Platelets (thrombocytes) are important for wound healing. An insufficient number causes bleeding, an overproduction causes thrombosis. Maintaining a constant platelet count is therefore crucial. Platelets are formed by megakaryocytes (MKs). Researchers at the LMU Clinic and the Biomedical Center (BMC) have discovered that plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) control the maturation of new MKs and thus platelet formation. The targeted influencing of pDC-driven megakaryopoiesis therefore offers possibilities for increasing or suppressing platelet production in various clinical scenarios. The researchers hope that these findings will open up new therapeutic options for Covid-19 and other diseases associated with deregulated platelet production. The findings were published in the journal Nature.
Link to the publication:
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells control homeostasis of megakaryopoiesis (Gaertner et al., 2024)
Link to the press release:
Immune cells monitor platelet maturation in the bone marrow
