Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Megakaryocyte and Platelet Production

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2025) | Viewed by 3432

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Gene Regulation, Stem Cells & Development lab. PTS-Granada, GENyO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada, Andalusian Regional Government, Granada, Spain
2. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Interests: hematopoiesis; megacariopoyesis; gene regulation; stem cells; platelets; extracellular vesicles

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Medicine, University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
2. Platelet Research Lab, Health Research Institute of the Principality of Asturias (ISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Spain
Interests: hematopoiesis; megacariopoyesis; platelets; proteomics; translation regulation; flow cytometry
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Historically, and from a very broad and general perspective, the study of platelets occurred in the context of thrombosis and hemostasis, while the study of megakaryocytes occurred in the context of oncohematology. However, the acknowledged role of platelets in various physiological processes beyond hemostasis and the demand not only to improve the diagnosis and treatment of platelet disorders but also to understand their contribution to other conditions and to improve platelet-based therapies has triggered the necessity to understand how platelets are produced.

While we have advanced enormously in our understanding of platelet production and function (from megakaryocytes to platelets), we are still at the tip of the iceberg regarding even the generation of tools to study this lineage properly and to understand its role in health and disease in a comprehensive manner. This knowledge will certainly lead to the development of new therapies targeting platelets, platelet-based biomarkers, platelet-based therapeutic bio-products, platelet mimetics, platelet-derived extracellular vesicles, etc.

Given the growing interest in platelets beyond hemostasis and their applications beyond transfusion medicine, we are launching this Special Issue of Biomolecules, where we intend to explore advances in knowledge and present the most up-to-date findings regarding the “Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Megakaryocyte and Platelet Production”.

We encourage you and your co-workers to submit articles focused on this research topic. Reviews or original articles are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to make this initiative a wonderful and complete Special Issue!

Dr. Pedro J. Real
Dr. Laura Gutiérrez
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • megakaryocytes
  • platelets
  • omics
  • platelet disorders
  • inflammation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

32 pages, 9392 KB  
Article
Proteomic Validation of MEG-01-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Representative Models for Megakaryocyte- and Platelet-Derived Extracellular Vesicles
by Jose Manuel Sanchez-Manas, Sonia Perales, Gonzalo Martinez-Navajas, Jorge Ceron-Hernandez, Cristina M. Lopez, Angela Peralbo-Molina, Juan R. Delgado, Joaquina Martinez-Galan, Veronica Ramos-Mejia, Eduardo Chicano-Galvez, Maria Hernandez-Valladares, Francisco M. Ortuno, Carolina Torres and Pedro J. Real
Biomolecules 2025, 15(12), 1698; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15121698 - 5 Dec 2025
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Abstract
Platelets and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising liquid biopsy biosources for cancer detection and monitoring. The megakaryoblastic MEG-01 cell line offers a controlled system for generating platelet-like particles (PLPs) and EVs through valproic-acid-induced differentiation. Here, we performed comprehensive characterization and [...] Read more.
Platelets and their extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as promising liquid biopsy biosources for cancer detection and monitoring. The megakaryoblastic MEG-01 cell line offers a controlled system for generating platelet-like particles (PLPs) and EVs through valproic-acid-induced differentiation. Here, we performed comprehensive characterization and proteomic validation of MEG-01-derived populations, native human platelets, and their EVs using nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, imaging flow cytometry and quantitative proteomics. MEG-01 megakaryocytic differentiation is characterized by polylobulated nuclei, proplatelet formation, and elevated CD41/CD42a expression. PLPs predominantly exhibit an activated-like phenotype (CD62P+, degranulated morphology), while microvesicles (100–500 nm) and exosomes (50–250 nm) displayed size distributions and phenotypic markers consistent with native platelet-derived EVs. Proteomics identified substantial core proteomes shared across fractions and fraction-specific patterns consistent with selective cargo partitioning during EV biogenesis. Functional enrichment indicated that MEG-01-derived vesicles preserve key hemostatic, cytoskeletal, and immune pathways commonly associated with platelet EV biology. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed that PLPs exhibit proliferative transcriptional programs (elevated MYC/RB1/TEAD1, reduced GATA1), while plasma exosomes display minimal differential pathway activation compared to MEG-01 exosomes. Overall, these findings suggest that MEG-01-derived EVs approximate certain aspects of megakaryocyte-lineage exosomes and activated platelet-like states, although they do not fully replicate native platelet biology. Notably, plasma exosomes show strong proteomic convergence with MEG-01 exosomes, whereas platelet exosomes retain distinct activation-related features. Full article
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