@phdthesis{Wagner2020,
  author    = {Wagner, Leonard},
  title     = {Zinc homeostasis in megakaryocytes},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21452},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-214526},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Zinc is an essential trace element for all living organisms. In mammals, including humans and mice, it is required for normal growth, development, hematopoiesis and immune defense. This thesis investigates the influence of zinc on the development of megakaryocytes (MKs), the cells responsible for bone marrow-derived platelet production. Furthermore, a detailed analysis of the expression of zinc import and export transporters (Slc39a/Slc30a genes) is carried out, firstly over the course of MK differentiation and secondly dependent on extracellular zinc.},
  subject      = {Zink},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{vanEeuwijk2018,
  author    = {van Eeuwijk, Judith Martina Maria},
  title     = {Studies on thrombopoiesis and spleen tyrosine kinase-mediated signaling in platelets},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-142933},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {In mammals, anucleate blood platelets are constantly produced by their giant bone marrow (BM) progenitors, the megakaryocytes (MKs), which originate from hematopoietic stem cells. Megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis have been studied intensively, but the exact mechanisms that control platelet generation from MKs remain poorly understood. Using multiphoton intravital microscopy (MP-IVM), thrombopoiesis and proplatelet formation were analyzed in the murine BM in real-time and in vivo, identifying an important role for several proteins, including Profilin1, TRPM7 and RhoA in thrombopoiesis. Currently, it is thought that blood cell precursors, such as MKs, migrate from the endosteal niche towards the vascular niche during maturation. In contrast to this paradigm, it was shown that MKs are homogeneously distributed within the dense BM blood vessel network, leaving no space for vessel-distant niches. By combining results from in vivo MP-IVM, in situ light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) of the intact BM as well as computational simulations, surprisingly slow MK migration, limited intervascular space and a vessel-biased MK pool were revealed, contradicting the current concept of directed MK migration during thrombopoiesis. Platelets play an essential role in hemostasis and thrombosis, but also in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke, which is mainly caused by thromboembolic occlusion of brain arteries, is among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide with limited treatment options. The platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein (GP) VI is a key player in arterial thrombosis and a critical determinant of stroke outcome, making its signaling pathway an attractive target for pharmacological intervention. The spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is an essential signaling mediator downstream of GPVI, but also of other platelet and immune cell receptors. In this thesis, it was demonstrated that mice lacking Syk specifically in platelets are protected from arterial thrombus formation and ischemic stroke, but display unaltered hemostasis. Furthermore, it was shown that mice treated with the novel, selective and orally bioavailable Syk inhibitor BI1002494 were protected in a model of arterial thrombosis and had smaller infarct sizes and a significantly better neurological outcome 24 h after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO), also when BI1002494 was administered therapeutically, i.e. after ischemia. These results provide direct evidence that pharmacological Syk inhibition might become a safe therapeutic strategy. The T cell receptor  chain-associated protein kinase of 70 kDA (Zap-70) is also a spleen tyrosine kinase family member, but has a lower intrinsic activity compared to Syk and is expressed in T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, but not in platelets. Unexpectedly, arterial thrombus formation in vivo can occur independently of Syk kinase function as revealed by studies in Sykki mice, which express Zap-70 under the control of intrinsic Syk promoter elements.},
  subject      = {Thrombose},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Schmithausen2019,
  author    = {Schmithausen, Patrick Alexander Gerhard},
  title     = {Three-dimensional fluorescence image analysis of megakaryocytes and vascular structures in intact bone},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-17854},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-178541},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {The thesis provides insights in reconstruction and analysis pipelines for processing of three-dimensional cell and vessel images of megakaryopoiesis in intact murine bone. The images were captured in a Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscope. The work presented here is part of Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 688 (project B07) of the University of W{\"u}rzburg, performed at the Rudolf-Virchow Center. Despite ongoing research within the field of megakaryopoiesis, its spatio-temporal pattern of megakaryopoiesis is largely unknown. Deeper insight to this field is highly desirable to promote development of new therapeutic strategies for conditions related to thrombocytopathy as well as thrombocytopenia. The current concept of megakaryopoiesis is largely based on data from cryosectioning or in vitro studies indicating the existence of spatial niches within the bone marrow where specific stages of megakaryopoiesis take place. Since classic imaging of bone sections is typically limited to selective two-dimensional views and prone to cutting artefacts, imaging of intact murine bone is highly desired. However, this has its own challenges to meet, particularly in image reconstruction. Here, I worked on processing pipelines to account for irregular specimen staining or attenuation as well as the extreme heterogeneity of megakaryocyte morphology. Specific challenges for imaging and image reconstruction are tackled and solution strategies as well as remaining limitations are presented and discussed. Fortunately, modern image processing and segmentation strongly benefits from continuous advances in hardware as well as software-development. This thesis exemplifies how a combined effort in biomedicine, computer vision, data processing and image technology leads to deeper understanding of megakaryopoiesis. Tailored imaging pipelines significantly helped elucidating that the large megakaryocytes are broadly distributed throughout the bone marrow facing a surprisingly dense vessel network. No evidence was found for spatial niches in the bone marrow, eventually resulting in a revised model of megakaryopoiesis.},
  subject      = {Megakaryozytopoese},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Mott2023,
  author    = {Mott, Kristina},
  title     = {Regulation of platelet biogenesis in the native and myeloablated bone marrow niche},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-28963},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-289630},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {Megakaryocytes (MKs) are the largest cells of the hematopoietic system and the precursor cells of platelets. During proplatelet formation (PPF) bone marrow (BM) MKs extent large cytoplasmic protrusions into the lumen of sinusoidal blood vessels. Under homeostatic conditions PPF occurs exclusively in the direction of the sinusoid, while platelet generation into the marrow cavity is prevented. So far, the mechanisms regulating this process in vivo are still not completely understood, especially when PPF is deregulated during disease. This thesis investigated the mechanisms of PPF in native BM and after myeloablation by total body irradiation (TBI). First, we have identified a specialized type of BM stromal cells, so called CXCL12-abundant reticular (CAR) cells, as novel possible regulators of PPF. By using complementary high-resolution microscopy techniques, we have studied the morphogenetic events at the MK/vessel wall interface in new detail, demonstrating that PPF formation preferentially occurs at CAR cell-free sites at the endothelium. In the second part of this thesis, we analyzed the processes leading to BM remodeling in response to myeloablation by TBI. We used confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to study the kinetic of radiation-triggered vasodilation and mapped extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins after TBI. We could demonstrate that collagen type IV and laminin α5 are specifically degraded at BM sinusoids. At the radiation-injured vessel wall we observed ectopic release of platelet-like particles into the marrow cavity concomitantly to aberrant CAR cell morphology, suggesting that the balance of factors regulating PPF is disturbed after TBI. ECM proteolysis is predominantly mediated by the matrix metalloproteinase MMP9, as revealed by gelatin-zymography and by a newly established BM in situ zymography technique. In transgenic mice lacking MMP9 vascular recovery was delayed, hinting towards a role of MMP9 in vessel reconstitution after myeloablation. In a third series of experiments, we studied the irradiated BM in the context of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). By using mice as BM donors that ubiquitously express the fluorescent reporter protein dsRed we tracked engraftment of donor cells and especially MKs in the recipient BM. We found a distinct engraftment pattern and cluster formation for MKs, which is different from other blood cell lineages. Finally, we assessed platelet function after TBI and HSCT and were the first to demonstrate that platelets become massively hyporeactive, particularly upon stimulation of the collagen receptor GPVI. In summary, our findings shed light on the processes of PPF during health and disease which will help to develop treatments for aberrant thrombopoiesis.},
  subject      = {Knochenmark},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Kurz2022,
  author    = {Kurz, Hendrikje},
  title     = {Regulation of ion conductance and cAMP/cGMP concentration in megakaryocytes by light},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21694},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-216947},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Platelets play an essential role in haemostasis. Through granule secretion of second wave mediators and aggregation, they secure vascular integrity. Due to incorrect activation, platelet aggregation and subsequent thrombus formation can cause blood vessel occlusion, leading to ischemia. Patients with defects in platelet production have a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), which can cause an increased bleeding risk. In vitro platelet generation is still in its development phase. So far, no convincing results have been obtained. For this reason, the health care system still depends on blood donors. Platelets are produced by bone marrow megakaryocytes (MKs), which extend long cytoplasmic protrusions, designated proplatelets, into sinusoidal blood vessels. Due to shear forces, platelets are then released into the bloodstream. The molecular mechanisms underlying platelet production are still not fully understood. However, a more detailed insight of this biological process is necessary to improve the in vitro generation of platelets and to optimise treatment regimens of patients. Optogenetics is defined as "light-modulation of cellular activity or of animal behaviour by gene transfer of photo-sensitive proteins". Optogenetics has had a big impact on neuroscience over the last decade. The use of channelrhodopsin 2 (ChR2), a light-sensitive cation channel, made it possible to stimulate neurons precisely and minimally invasive for the first time. Recent developments in the field of optogenetics intend to address a broader scope of cellular and molecular biology. The aim of this thesis is to establish optogenetics in the field of MK research in order to precisely control and manipulate MK differentiation. An existing "optogenetic toolbox" was used, which made it possible to light-modulate the cellular concentration of specific signalling molecules and ion conductance in MKs. Expression of the bacterial photoactivated adenylyl cyclase (bPAC) resulted in a significant increase in cAMP concentration after 5 minutes of illumination. Similarly, intracellular cGMP concentrations in MKs expressing photoactivated guanylyl cyclase (BeCyclop) were elevated. Furthermore, proplatelet formation of MKs expressing the light-sensitive ion channels ChR2 and anion channelrhodopsin (ACR) was altered in a light-dependent manner. These results show that MK physiology can be modified by optogenetic approaches. This might help shed new light on the underlying mechanisms of thrombopoiesis.},
  subject      = {Optogenetik},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{JurakBegonja2007,
  author    = {Jurak Begonja, Antonija},
  title     = {NO/cGMP and ROS Pathways in Regulation of Platelet Function and Megakaryocyte Maturation},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-21954},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2007},
  abstract  = {Blutpl{\"a}ttchen spielen unter physiologischen Bedingungen eine wichtige Rolle bei der Erhaltung der H{\"a}mostase. So verhindern sie ein andauerndes Bluten von Wunden, indem sie in Blutgef{\"a}ssen zwischen normalen Zellen des Endothels und besch{\"a}digten Bereichen unterscheiden und sich dort gezielt anheften k{\"o}nnen. Das Zusammenspiel der Pl{\"a}ttchenagonisten und den dazugeh{\"o}rigen Rezeptoren wird durch intrazellul{\"a}re Signalmolek{\"u}le kontrolliert, die die Aktivierung der Blutpl{\"a}ttchen regulieren. {\"A}usserst wichtige intrazellulare Signalmolek{\"u}le stellen dabei die zyklischen Nukleotide cGMP und cAMP dar, die bei der Hemmung der Pl{\"a}ttchen beteiligt sind. Die Bildung von cGMP und cAMP in den Blutpl{\"a}ttchen wird durch die aus dem Endothel freigesetzten Molek{\"u}le NO und Prostacyclin (PGI2) stimuliert, die ihrerseits Blutpl{\"a}ttchen hemmen, indem sie Proteinkinase G (PKG) und Proteinkinase A (PKA) aktivieren. Neuerdings wird vorgeschlagen, dass es sich bei ROS („reactive oxygen species") um einen neuen Modulator bei der Signaltransduktion zwischen verschiedenen Zelltypen handelt. Die hier zusammengefasste Arbeit beschreibt die Rolle der ROS-Produktion bei der Aktivierung von Blutpl{\"a}ttchen, die Beziehung zwischen dem NO/cGMP/PKG I Signalweg und der ROS bzw. MAP-Kinase Signaltransduktion, und die Rolle von zyklischen Nukleotiden bei der Entwicklung von Megakaryozyten und Blutpl{\"a}ttchen. Werden Blutpl{\"a}ttchen durch unterschiedliche Einfl{\"u}sse aktiviert, so produzieren sie {\"u}ber die Aktivierung von NAD(P)H-Oxidase nur intrazellul{\"a}res aber nicht extrazellul{\"a}res ROS. Dabei beinflusst das in den Blutpl{\"a}ttchen produzierte ROS signifikant die Aktivierung von \&\#945;IIb\&\#946;3 Integrin, nicht jedoch die Sekretion von alpha- bzw. dichten Granula oder die Gestalt der Blutpl{\"a}ttchen. Die Thrombin-induzierte Integrin \&\#945;IIb\&\#946;3-Aktivierung ist nach Behandlung der Blutpl{\"a}ttchen mit Hemmstoffen der NAD(P)H-Oxidase oder Superoxid-F{\"a}ngern signifikant reduziert. Diese Inhibitoren reduzieren auch die Aggregation der Blutpl{\"a}ttchen bzw. die Thrombusbildung auf Kollagen, wobei diese Effekte unabh{\"a}ngig vom NO/cGMP Signalweg vermittelt werden. Sowohl ADP, das von dichten Granula der Blutpl{\"a}ttchen sezerniert wird und zur Aktivierung von P2Y12-Rezeptoren f{\"u}hrt, als auch die Freigabe von Thromboxan A2 stellen wichtige, vorgeschaltete Vermittler bei der p38 MAP Kinase-Aktivierung durch Thrombin dar. Jedoch spielt die p38 MAP-Kinase-Aktivierung keine signifikante Rolle bei der Thrombin-induzierten Kalzium-Mobilisierung, P-Selektin Exprimierung, \&\#945;IIb\&\#946;3 Integrin Aktivierung oder Aggregation der Blutpl{\"a}ttchen. Abschliessend kann festgestellt werden, dass sich die Aktivierung der PKG insgesamt klar hemmend auf die p38 and ERK MAP-Kinasen in menschlichen Blutpl{\"a}ttchen auswirkt. Desweiteren zeigt diese Studie, dass zyklische Nukleotide nicht nur die Blutpl{\"a}ttchen hemmen, sondern auch einen Einfluss auf die Entwicklung der Megakaryozyten und Blutpl{\"a}ttchen haben, aber auf unterschiedliche Weise. cAMP ist an der Differenzierung von embryonalen h{\"a}matopoietischen Zellen zu Megakaryozyten beteiligt, wobei cGMP keine Rolle bei diesem Prozess spielt. W{\"a}hrend PKA in embryonalen Zellen schon vertreten ist, steigt beim Reifungsprozess der Megakaryozyten die Expression von Proteinen, die bei der cGMP Signalverbreitung („soluble guanylyl cyclase", sGC; PKG) mitwirken, stetig an. In der letzten Phase der Reifung von Megakaryozyten, die durch die Freisetzung der Blutpl{\"a}ttchen charakterisiert ist, zeigen cGMP und cAMP leicht divergierende Effekte: cGMP verst{\"a}rkt die Bildung von Blutpl{\"a}ttchen, w{\"a}hrend cAMP dieselbe reduziert. Dies deutet auf einen fein abgestimmten Prozess hin, abh{\"a}ngig von einem Stimulus, der von den benachbarten Zellen des Sinusoid-Endothels stammen k{\"o}nnte. Die Ergebnisse dieser Dissertation tragen zu einen besseren Verst{\"a}ndnis der Regulation von Blutpl{\"a}ttchen sowie der m{\"o}glichen molekularen Mechanismen bei, die eine Rolle bei der Reifung von Megakaryozyten im vaskularen Mikroumfeld des Knochenmarks innehaben.},
  subject      = {Thrombozyt},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Heib2022,
  author    = {Heib, Tobias},
  title     = {The role of Rho GTPases in megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21664},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-216645},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Platelets, derived from megakaryocytes (MKs) in the bone marrow (BM), are small, anucleated cells that circulate in the bloodstream and are critical for thrombosis and hemostasis. Megakaryo- and subsequent thrombopoiesis are highly orchestrated processes involving the differentiation and maturation of MKs from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), after which MKs are able to release platelets into the bloodstream, a process termed proplatelet formation (PPF). Here, the MK penetrates the endothelial lining and releases cytoplasmic portions (proplatelets) into the blood stream, which finally mature into platelets within the ciruculation. PPF requires an extensive crosstalk as well as a tight regulation of the MK cytoskeleton, in which small GTPases of the Rho family, such as RhoA and Cdc42 are critically involved and play opposing roles. MK and platelet specific Cdc42 or RhoA-deficiency in mice results in macrothrombocytopenia. Moreover, RhoA deficient mice displayed a frequent mislocalization of entire MKs into BM sinusoids, a finding that was reverted upon concomitant lack of Cdc42 but accompanied by an aggravated macrothrombocytopenia. Whether receptors are involved in the process of transendothelial MK migration, however, remained unclear. In the first part of this thesis, a centrifugation-based method ('spin isolation') to harvest murine BM cells was established, which not only reduces experimental time, costs and animals but is also highly suitable for studies on primary and in vitro cultured BM-derived cells. The spin isolation was used particularly for MK studies during the course of the thesis. In the second part of this thesis, a MK- and platelet-specific RhoA/Cdc42 double-deficiency was shown to result in reduced expression of a variety of MK-specific glycoproteins and cytoskeletal regulators of importance during MK maturation and PPF, a phenotype culminating in virtually abolished platelet biogenesis. We thus uncovered that RhoA/Cdc42-regulated gene expression is a prerequisite for cytoplasmic MK maturation, but dispensable for endomitosis. In the third part of this thesis we analyzed mice double-deficient in RhoA and prominent MK receptors which are potentially involved in the regulation of PPF in the BM environment. We were able to show that integrins as well as the inhibitory receptor G6b-B are dispensable for transendothelial migration of RhoA-deficient MKs. Surprisingly however, the myelofibrosis and concomitant osteosclerosis observed in G6b-B single-deficient mice was attenuated in RhoA/G6b B double-deficient mice, thus implying an important role of RhoA during myelofibrotic disease progression. BM transplantation experiments furthermore revealed that not only the macrothrombocytopenia but also the transmigration of RhoA-deficient MKs is due to cell-intrinsic defects and not related to possible Pf4-Cre off-target effects in non-hematopoietic cells. In the last part of this study we demonstrated that the new approach for MK- and platelet-specific gene ablatation using Gp1ba-Cre deleter mice is associated with intrinsic MK defects and in addition results in insufficient depletion of RhoA compared to the Pf4-Cre model, positioning the latter still as the gold standard for studying MK biology.},
  subject      = {Megakaryozyt},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Gorelashvili2019,
  author    = {Gorelashvili, Maximilian Georg},
  title     = {Investigation of megakaryopoiesis and the acute phase of ischemic stroke by advanced fluorescence microscopy},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-18600},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-186002},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {In mammals, anucleate platelets circulate in the blood flow and are primarily responsible for maintaining functional hemostasis. Platelets are generated in the bone marrow (BM) by megakaryocytes (MKs), which mainly reside directly next to the BM sinusoids to release proplatelets into the blood. MKs originate from hematopoietic stem cells and are thought to migrate from the endosteal to the vascular niche during their maturation, a process, which is, despite being intensively investigated, still not fully understood. Long-term intravital two photon microscopy (2PM) of MKs and vasculature in murine bone marrow was performed and mean squared displacement analysis of cell migration was performed. The MKs exhibited no migration, but wobbling-like movement on time scales of 3 h. Directed cell migration always results in non-random spatial distribution. Thus, a computational modelling algorithm simulating random MK distribution using real 3D light-sheet fluorescence microscopy data sets was developed. Direct comparison of real and simulated random MK distributions showed, that MKs exhibit a strong bias to vessel-contact. However, this bias is not caused by cell migration, as non-vessel-associated MKs were randomly distributed in the intervascular space. Furthermore, simulation studies revealed that MKs strongly impair migration of other cells in the bone marrow by acting as large-sized obstacles. MKs are thought to migrate from the regions close to the endosteum towards the vasculature during their maturation process. MK distribution as a function of their localization relative to the endosteal regions of the bones was investigated by light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM). The results show no bone-region dependent distribution of MKs. Taken together, the newly established methods and obtained results refute the model of MK migration during their maturation. Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is a frequent complication of cerebral ischemic stroke, where brain tissue damage occurs despite successful recanalization. Platelets, endothelial cells and immune cells have been demonstrated to affect the progression of I/R injury in experimental mouse models 24 h after recanalization. However, the underlying Pathomechanisms, especially in the first hours after recanalization, are poorly understood. Here, LSFM, 2PM and complemental advanced image analysis workflows were established for investigation of platelets, the vasculature and neutrophils in ischemic brains. Quantitative analysis of thrombus formation in the ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres at different time points revealed that platelet aggregate formation is minimal during the first 8 h after recanalization and occurs in both hemispheres. Considering that maximal tissue damage already is present at this time point, it can be concluded that infarct progression and neurological damage do not result from platelet aggregated formation. Furthermore, LSFM allowed to confirm neutrophil infiltration into the infarcted hemisphere and, here, the levels of endothelial cell marker PECAM1 were strongly reduced. However, further investigations must be carried out to clearly identify the role of neutrophils and the endothelial cells in I/R injury.},
  subject      = {Fluoreszenzmikroskopie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Gerner2019,
  author    = {Gerner, Frank},
  title     = {Functional analysis of polarization and podosome formation of murine and human megakaryocytes},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-16050},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-160508},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {In mammals, blood platelets are produced by large bone marrow (BM) precursor cells, megakaryocytes (MK) that extend polarized cell protrusions (proplateles) into BM sinusoids. Proplatelet formation (PPF) requires substantial cytoskeletal rearrangements that have been shown to involve the formation of podosomes, filamentous actin (F-actin) and integrin-rich structures. However, the exact molecular mechanisms regulating MK podosome formation, polarization and migration within the BM are poorly defined. According to current knowledge obtained from studies with other cell types, these processes are regulated by Rho GTPase proteins like RhoA and Cdc42. In this thesis, polarization and podosome formation were investigated in MKs from genetically modified mice, as well as the cell lines K562 and Meg01 by pharmacological modulation of signaling pathways. The first part of this thesis describes establishment of the basic assays for investigation of MK polarization. Initial data on polarization of the MK-like erythroleukemia cell line K562 revealed first insights into actin and tubulin dynamics of wild type (WT) and RhoA knock-out (RhoA-/-) K562 cells. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induction of K562 cells led to the expected MK-receptor upregulation but also RhoA depletion and altered polarization patterns. The second part of this thesis focuses on podosome formation of MKs. RhoA is shown to be dispensable for podosome formation. Cdc42 is revealed as an important, but not essential regulator of MK spreading and podosome formation. Studies of signaling pathways of podosome formation reveal the importance of the tyrosine kinases Src, Syk, as well as glycoprotein (GP)VI in MK spreading and podosome formation. This thesis provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying polarization and podosome formation of MKs and reveals new, important information about cytoskeletal dynamics of MKs and potentially also platelets.},
  subject      = {Megakaryozyt},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Becker2021,
  author    = {Becker, Isabelle Carlotta},
  title     = {The role of megakaryocytes and platelets in vascular and osteogenic development},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21024},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-210241},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Platelets, small anucleate cell fragments in the blood stream, derive from large precursor cells, so-called megakaryocytes (MK) residing in the bone marrow (BM). In addition to their role in wound healing, platelets have been shown to play a significant role during inflammatory bleeding. Above all, the immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) receptors GPVI as well as CLEC-2 have been identified as main regulators of vascular integrity. In addition to ITAM-bearing receptors, our group identified GPV as another potent regulator of hemostasis and thrombosis. Surprisingly, concomitant lack of GPV and CLEC-2 deteriorated blood-lymphatic misconnections observed in Clec2-/- mice resulting in severe edema formation and intestinal inflammation. Analysis of lymphatic and vascular development in embryonic mesenteries revealed severely defective blood-lymph-vessel separation, which translated into thrombocytopenia and increased vascular permeability due to reduced tight junction density in mesenteric blood vessels and consequent leakage of blood into the peritoneal cavity. Recently, platelet granule release has been proposed to ameliorate the progression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a fatal disease in newborns leading to retinal degradation. The mechanisms governing platelet activation in this process remained elusive nonetheless, which prompted us to investigate a possible role of ITAM signaling. In the second part of this thesis, granule release during ROP was shown to be GPVI- and partly CLEC-2-triggered since blockade or loss of these receptors markedly deteriorated ROP progression. Proplatelet formation from MKs is highly dependent on a functional microtubule and actin cytoskeleton, the latter of which is regulated by several actin-monomer binding proteins including Cofilin1 and Twinfilin1 that have been associated with actin-severing at pointed ends. In the present study, a redundancy between both proteins especially important for the guided release of proplatelets into the bloodstream was identified, since deficiency in both proteins markedly impaired MK functionality mainly due to altered actin-microtubule crosstalk. Besides ITAM-triggered activation, platelets and MKs are dependent on inhibitory receptors, which prevent overshooting activation. We here identified macrothrombocytopenic mice with a mutation within Mpig6b encoding the ITIM-bearing receptor G6b-B. G6b-B-mutant mice developed a severe myelofibrosis associated with sex-specific bone remodeling defects resulting in osteosclerosis and -porosis in female mice. Moreover, G6b-B was shown to be indispensable for MK maturation as verified by a significant reduction in MK-specific gene expression in G6b-B-mutant MKs due to reduced GATA-1 activity.},
  subject      = {Megakaryozyt},
  language  = {en}
}