Thrombopoietin levels increased in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Hematological changes in patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) are common and frequently include thrombocytopenia. Using a ELISA method, we found an increase in thrombopoietin (TPO) levels in the plasma of convalesced SARS patients (290+/-53 pg/ml) and active SARS patients (251+/-23 pg/ml) comparing to that from normal control patients (228+/-17 pg/ml). In addition, the plasma from active SARS patients had an inhibitory effect on CFU-MK formation, which could be neutralized by anti-TGF-beta antibodies. In the experiment to determine whether SARS-CoV can directly infect hematopoietic stem cells and megakaryocytic cells, incubation of the cells with SARS-CoV did not show active infection. Our findings of increased TPO levels in the plasma of SARS patients provide a possible explanation for the genesis of thrombocytosis, which frequently develops from thrombocytopenia in SARS patients.
Yang
Mo
M
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China. yangmo@hkucc.hku.hk
Ng
Margaret H L
MH
Li
Chi Kong
CK
Chan
Paul K S
PK
Liu
Chang
C
Ye
Jie Yu
JY
Chong
Beng H
BH
D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008533:Megakaryocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008954:Models, Biological; D012044:Regression Analysis; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000378:metabolism; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology; D013234:Stem Cells; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000276:immunology
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D013926:Thrombopoietin