title: A product of their environment: do megakaryocytes rely on extracellular cues for proplatelet formation?
abstract: Megakaryocytes have long been observed to form abundant filamentous extensions called proplatelets. A strong body of evidence strongly suggests these proplatelets are the mechanism by which platelets are released into the vasculature. Despite the recent advances in understanding proplatelet architecture, surprisingly little attention has been paid to identifying the ways in which the bone marrow environment regulates proplatelet formation. This review summarises this field and how these findings suggest a spatial and temporal regulation to ensure that platelets are produced in the correct location.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Institute for Biomedical Research, Division of Medical Sciences, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK B15 2TT, UK. mklarson@augie.edu
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: Steve P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*