title: Super-resolution microscopy in the diagnosis of platelet granule disorders.
abstract: Platelet granule deficiencies lead to bleeding disorders, but their specific diagnosis typically requires whole mount transmission electron microscopy, which is often not available and has a number of important limitations. We recently proposed the use of advanced forms of fluorescence microscopy - the so-called 'super-resolution' microscopies - as a possible solution. Areas covered: In this special report, we review the diagnosis of platelet granule deficiencies, and discuss how recent developments in fluorescence microscopy may be useful in improving diagnostic approaches to these and related disorders. In particular, we conclude that super-resolution fluorescence microscopy may have advantages over transmission electron microscopy in this application. Expert commentary: The value of the super-resolution microscopies has been amply demonstrated in research; however, their potential in diagnostic applications is ripe for further exploration. Hematology is a field particularly likely to benefit because of the relative simplicity of sample preparation. We anticipate that the costs of the necessary instrumentation will continue to fall rapidly, making these technologies widely accessible to clinicians.
authors.affiliation: a Biotechnology Group , National Physical Laboratory , Middlesex , UK.
authors.forename: Alex E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: b Katherine Dormandy Haemophilia Centre and Thrombosis Unit , Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: c MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology , University College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Daniel F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cutler
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology*; D055652:Gray Platelet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
keywords: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome; Super-resolution microscopy; dense granules; platelet disorders; structured illumination microscopy