Key result
Megakaryocytes comprise diverse subpopulations across tissues including the lungs, serving functions beyond platelet production.
Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Megakaryocytes are commonly known as large, polyploid, bone marrow resident cells that contribute to hemostasis through the production of platelets. Soon after their discovery in the 19th century, megakaryocytes were described in tissue locations other than the bone marrow, specifically in the lungs and the blood circulation. However, the localization of megakaryocytes in the lungs and the contribution of lung megakaryocytes to the general platelet pool has only recently been appreciated. Moreover, the conception of megakaryocytes as uniform cells with the sole purpose of platelet production has been challenged. Here, we review the literature on megakaryocyte cell identity and location with a special focus on recent observations of megakaryocyte subpopulations identified by transcriptomic analyses.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Puhm et al. (2023) reported a review. Literature review reveals megakaryocytes are not uniform cells solely for platelet production, but consist of diverse subpopulations located in various tissues including the lungs.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: