Splenic megakaryocytes and circulating platelets in pregnant rats

A comparative study of the hemopoietic tissues and blood of non-pregnant and pregnant rats of graded duration of gestation was undertaken and the results were compared with those obtained on postsplenectomized rats at similar stages of pregnancy. The number of megakaryocytes was determined in representative fields of the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Platelet counts were performed on blood collected from the venae cavae of these rats using a modified Rees-Ecker technique. The liver of normal adult animals, pregnant or non-pregnant, does not reveal megakaryocyte production. Although bone marrow is the most active site of megakaryocytopoiesis in the adult animal there is only a slight numerical increase in megakaryocytes during pregnancy. The most dramatic change occurs in the spleen of the pregnant rats and is reflected by increased splenic weight and increases in red pulp and in the number of platelets circulating in venous blood. Splenectomy of the rat produces an abrupt increase in the number of circualting platelets which is not sustained into the later postoperative period when platelet counts below those of control animals are found. When pregnancy occurs in the later postoperative period, the splenectomized rat develops a trend toward increased platelt counts but these never reach the level obtained in nonsplenectomized pregnant rats.     

Dendritic cell and macrophage staining by monoclonal antibodies in tissue sections and epidermal sheets.

Mouse tissue sections were stained by monoclonal antibodies to macrophage antigens (Mac-1 (M1/70), Mac-2 (M3/38), Mac-3 (M3/84) with the use of immunoperoxidase. Mac-1 was located diffusely in the cytoplasm of round cells in a high percentage of alveolar macrophages, resident peritoneal and bone marrow cells, in splenic red pulp, and in rare perivascular cells in the thymus. Mac-1 was absent in epithelial cells and Langerhans cells. Mac-2 was strongly positive in many dendritic cells in the thymic medulla, more than the cortex, in paracortex and medulla of lymph nodes, sparing the follicles, and in the marginal zone of spleen. There were a few positive cells in germinal centers. Mac-2 was located in a low percentage of bone marrow and a high percentage of resident peritoneal cells. When positive in sections Mac-3 always showed granular cytoplasmic staining. Bone marrow showed a high percentage of cytoplasmic staining (greater than 50%), as compared with low surface staining (less than 1%). It was found in hematopoietic cells, and in all endothelium, including postcapillary venules and lining of sinuses. It was probable that the resulting dendritic staining pattern for Mac-3 in paracortex of lymph node, white and red pulp, thymic cortex, and medulla included dendritic cells other than endothelial cells. Alveolar macrophages and Kupffer cells were positive for Mac-2 and Mac-3. Mac-3 also stained bile canaliculi. Clearly different staining patterns were found in epithelial cells for Mac-2 and Mac-3 in kidney tubules, intestinal mucosal lining, bronchi, choroid plexus, and epidermis.     

Megakaryocyte and platelet ultrastructure in the Wistar Furth rat.

Wistar Furth (WF) rats were studied and compared with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to determine if ultrastructural abnormalities in platelets or megakaryocytes could explain their macrothrombocytopenia. WF rats had one third of the platelet count of healthy rats and two times the platelet volume. Megakaryocyte number was decreased and the size of mature stage three megakaryocytes also was decreased. WF platelets had large membranous inclusions, and otherwise showed normal ultrastructural morphology. The WF megakaryocytes showed abnormal aggregates of the demarcation membrane system. Ruthenium red staining was more intense on WF megakaryocytes and platelets, indicating a possible increase in surface mucopolysaccharides. It is possible that abnormal megakaryocyte membrane structure may lead to WF macrothrombocytopenia.     

Monoclonal antibody against bone marrow stromal cells. Its production and characterization.

Bone marrow stromal cells play an essential role in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (1, 2). As a means of analyzing of the bone marrow microenvironment immunohistochemically, we attempted to produce a rat monoclonal antibody against the murine preadipocyte line H-1 derived from long-term bone marrow culture (LTBMC) of C57BL/6 mice (3, 4). A newly established monoclonal antibody, designated R4-A9, was obtained from a hybridoma prepared by fusion of Y.B2/3.0Ag20(YO) rat myeloma cells with spleen cells of LEW rats immunized with H-1 cells. The immunofluorescence of live H-1 cells showed that the antigen reacting with this antibody was strongly expressed on the cell surface. The specificity of R4-A9 was assessed immunohistochemically on frozen sections of various tissues from normal adult mice. R4-A9 demonstrated specificity for hematopoietic stroma in bone marrow and spleen. No staining was observed in thymus, lymph nodes or other tissues examined, with the exception of Leydig cells in the testis and the endothelium of small arteries in several organs. Detailed immunohistochemical observations at both the light microscopy and electron microscopy level showed that R4-A9 selectively reacted with the sinusoidal endothelium, perisinusoidal adventitial cells (5) (adventitial reticular cells (6] and intersinusoidal reticular cells (5) and the reticular cells of the splenic red pulp. These findings indicate that reticular cells and the endothelium of the bone marrow possess the common cell surface molecules recognized by R4-A9. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that R4-A9-immunoprecipitated proteins had a molecular mass of 100 kDa under reducing conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vivo defibrination results in markedly decreased amounts of fibrinogen in rat megakaryocytes and platelets.

Recently evidence was provided for a pathway whereby circulating fibrinogen enters megakaryocyte granules by an endocytic mechanism. Synthesis of fibrinogen by megakaryocytes has been reported. To determine the relationship between plasma fibrinogen and alpha-granule fibrinogen in megakaryocytes and platelets, the fibrinogen content of these cells was studied in rats defibrinated by use of Ancrod, a thrombinlike enzyme purified from the venom of Agkistrodon rhodostoma. Unlike thrombin, Ancrod does not induce platelet secretion. Rats were injected with Ancrod (50 units/kilogram body weight) at 8-hour intervals for 5 days. There were no significant changes in platelet counts. Blood from the treated rats failed to clot, and plasma fibrinogen levels were less than 15 mg/dl. Bone marrow from defibrinated rats and untreated control rats was stained immunohistochemically for fibrinogen and two other alpha-granule proteins, albumin and platelet factor 4 (PF4), in plastic-embedded sections. The presence of these three proteins in platelets was detected by Western blots. Only trace amounts of fibrinogen were detected in megakaryocytes and platelets from defibrinated rats, but fibrinogen in control megakaryocytes and platelets was readily demonstrated. However defibrinated and control rats did not differ in albumin and PF4 content in megakaryocytes and platelets. It is concluded that a major portion of rat platelet fibrinogen is derived from plasma by endocytosis by megakaryocytes.     

Monoclonal antibodies against mouse splenic stromal cells

A panel of rat monoclonal antibodies directed against mouse splenic stromal cells were isolated. These monoclonal antibodies were Immunohistochemically divided into four groups which reacted with non-lymphoid cells of the murine spleen; (1) in the white pulp, (11) at the marginal zone, (111) in the red pulp, and (IV) on the endothelium of splenic blood vessels. These monoclonal antibodies were studied Immunohistochemically In lymphoid organs by means of light and electron microscopy. Monoclonal antibodies SS-4 (group I) reacted with fibroblastic reticulum cells that were distributed only in the white pulp of the spleen and In the follicular areas of lymph nodes. The SS-4 staining cell, In clustered splenic stromal cells, formed colonies which Included a small number of Thy-1 positive lymphocytes. Therefore, we concluded that SS4 staining stromal cells comprise the lymphoid cornpartment. In contrast, monoclonal antibodies SS-1, SS-3 and SS-5 (group II) reacted with dendritic shaped cells in the marginal zone of the spleen. Examination of splenic extra-medullary hematopolesis in mice rescued by bone marrow transplantation after lethal irradiation revealed that SS-3 and SS-5 reacted with dendritic shaped stromal cells in clonal nodules of engrafted marrow in the red pulp. SS-3 and SS-5 staining cells could not be observed in physiologic hematopoiesis of non-transplanted mice. It was suggested that SS3 and SS-5 staining stromal cells are Involved in primitive hematopoiesls. Monoclonal antibodies SS2, SS-6 and SS-7 (group 111) mainly reacted with dendritic cells and macro-phages in the red pulp. Monoclonal antibodies SS-8 and SS-9 (group IV) reacted with endothelial cells of blood vessels and sinuses. These findings of heterogeneity in mouse splenic stromal cells are further evidence that specific micro-envlronments are composed by speclalired stromal cells.     

Effect of platelet growth factors on proliferation of guinea pig bone marrow and splenic stromal precursor cells and proliferation of cultural descendants from bone marrow precursor cells

Elimination of platelets from guinea pig splenocyte suspension (laking megakaryocytes) with EDTA considerable reduces the efficiency cloning of splenic stromal precursor cells. It means that platelet-derived growth factors are necessary for stromal precursor cells from different organs (bone marrow, thymus, and spleen). The dependence on the platelet growth factors can vary within a wide range in descendants from cultured bone marrow precursor cells (passaged bone marrow fibroblasts at different stages of differentiation.     

Contractile Proteins of Endothelial Cells, Platelets and Smooth Muscle

In experiments described herein it was observed, by direct and indirect immunofluorescence technics, that rabbit antisera to human platelet actomyosin (thrombosthenin) stained mature megakaryocytes, blood platelets, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells of arteries and veins, endothelial cells of liver sinusoids and certain capillaries, uterine smooth muscle cells, myoepithelial cells, perineurial cells of peripheral nerves and “fibroblastic” cells of granulation tissue. The specificity of immunohistologic staining was confirmed by appropriate absorption and blocking studies and immunodiffusional analysis in agarose gel. It was also observed by immunodiffusional analysis in agarose gel, electrophoresis of actomyosin fragments in polyacrylamide gels, immune inhibition of actomyosin ATPase activity and immune aggregation of platelets that uterine and platelet actomyosin are partially, but not completely, identical.     

Osteoclasts contain macrophage and megakaryocyte antigens

The origin and mechanism of formation of the osteoclast remains controversial. Although it is known to be derived from a circulating mononuclear percursor, the identity of this cell is unknown. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies raised against macrophage and other marrow-derived cells, we determined the immunocytochemical staining of human osteoclasts in both fetal bone metaphyseal imprints and frozen sections. Osteoclasts and marrow mononuclear cells were stained by three broad spectrum antimacrophage antibodies, EBM-11, Y182a and BM2. T310, an antibody which stains macrophages and T helper cells, and C17, an antimegakaryocyte antibody, also stained osteoclasts. EBM-11, Y182a and BM2 also stained megakaryocytes in bone imprints as well as normal bone marrow smears. The presence of macrophage-associated antigens in osteoclasts, megakaryocytes and bone marrow mononuclear cells indicates that they are phenotypically similar to macrophages.     

Developmental differences in megakaryocyte maturation are determined by the microenvironment

Historically, physicians have attributed delayed platelet engraftment following umbilical cord blood transplant to decreased numbers of stem cells in cord blood compared with adult bone marrow. However, recent studies suggest that delayed platelet engraftment may be caused by an intrinsic inability of neonatal stem cells to produce mature, polyploid megakaryocytes. We tested this hypothesis by transplanting adult bone marrow and newborn liver hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein into myeloablated wild-type recipients and comparing the size and ploidy levels of megakaryocytes that developed in adult transplant recipients. Transplanted stem and progenitor cells, regardless of their source, gave rise to megakaryocytes that were larger than normal adult megakaryocytes as early as 7 days post-transplant. However, megakaryocytes that developed after transplant of neonatal stem and progenitor cells were significantly smaller than those derived from adult stem and progenitor cells. Furthermore, megakaryocytes derived from neonatal cells had lower ploidy values than megakaryocytes derived from adult cells at 18 days post-transplant, when ploidy could first be reliably measured in the bone marrow. These differences in size and ploidy disappeared by 1 month post-transplant. The largest megakaryocytes developed in the spleen. These results suggest that, in the mouse, the microenvironment is responsible for some of the maturational differences in size and ploidy between neonatal and adult megakaryocytes. Furthermore, neonatal and adult megakaryocyte progenitors also have cell-intrinsic differences in the way they engraft and respond to thrombocytopenic stress. These differences may contribute to the delay in platelet engraftment that frequently complicates cord blood transplants.     

Immunocytochemical detection of megakaryocytes by endothelial markers: a comparative study.

By endothelial markers such as FVIII, UEA-I, CD31 and QBEND/10, the Authors have investigated the immunohistochemical pattern of bone marrow megakaryocytes in myelodysplastic (8 cases) and myeloproliferative (35 cases) disorders as well as in control biopsies (8 cases). An evident cytoplasmic positivity with FVIII and UEA-I was encountered in all normal and pathological specimens, whereas the immunolocalization of CD31 was limited to megakaryocytes present in normal bone marrow biopsies or in cases of myelofibrosis. No immunostaining with QBEND/10 was observed in any case, although the most selective staining of endothelial cells of bone marrow vessels was noted with this antibody. The usefulness to utilize endothelial markers in order to identify atypical and immature forms of megakaryocytes as well as micromegakaryocytes, especially in myelofibrosis by the aid of CD31, was also discussed.     

Platelet phagocytosis in the spleen of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)

The ultrastructure of spleen from four patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is studied. Platelets, with no evidence of degranulation and aggregation, leave the circulation by passing through gaps in the sinus wall in the marginal zones and the red pulp. They are then trapped by pseudopods of macrophages and are phagocytosed as whole elements. The endothelial cells lining the sinuses do not phagocytose platelets or other circulating blood cells. The degradation of these platelets in the phagolysosomes of macrophages is incomplete and results in the formation of myelinic-like figures which accumulate in large numbers in these cells. This incomplete platelet breakdown may be due to a deficiency of specific lysosomal enzymes. Erythroleucophagocytosis in ITP is normal. The results are consistent with the concept that 'self' constituents are normally and readily destroyed by autolytic enzymes. In the case of enzyme deficiency or the presence of 'foreign' antigens, including altered 'self' antigens, these enzymes become ineffective for rapid and complete degradation of the substrate. Through macrophage-lymphocyte interaction, antibody-forming cells are activated against these residual substances. These antibodies, in turn, facilitate the phagocytosis of the specific 'antigens' by macrophages. The massive platelet phagocytosis and the presence of large numbers of germinal centres in the white pulp and plasma cells in the marginal zone and red pulp suggest that the spleen is the major site of platelet destruction, as well as the site of antiplatelet antibody synthesis.     

Antiplatelet antibody‐induced thrombocytopenia does not correlate with megakaryocyte abnormalities in murine immune thrombocytopenia

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP ) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder characterized by increased peripheral immune platelet destruction and megakaryocyte defects in the bone marrow. Although ITP was originally thought to be primarily due to antibody‐mediated autoimmunity, it is now clear that T cells also play a significant role in the disease. However, the exact interplay between platelet destruction, megakaryocyte dysfunction and the elements of both humoral and cell‐mediated immunity in ITP remains incompletely defined. While most studies have focused on immune platelet destruction in the spleen, an additional possibility is that the antiplatelet antibodies can also destroy bone marrow megakaryocytes. To address this, we negated the effects of T cells by utilizing an in vivo passive ITP model where BALB /c mice were administered various anti‐αII b, anti‐β3 or anti‐GPI b antibodies or antisera and platelet counts and bone marrow megakaryocytes were enumerated. Our results show that after 24 hours, all the different antiplatelet antibodies/sera induced variable degrees of thrombocytopenia in recipient mice. Compared with naïve control mice, however, histological examination of the bone marrow revealed that only 2 antibody preparations (mouse‐anti‐mouse β3 sera and an anti‐ αII b monoclonal antibody (MWR eg30) could affect bone marrow megakaryocyte counts. Our study shows that while most antiplatelet antibodies induce acute thrombocytopenia, the majority of them do not affect the number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. This suggests that other mechanisms may be responsible for megakaryocyte abnormalities seen during immune thrombocytopenia.     

Distribution of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) in tissues.

Extracts of human tissue were analysed for plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) antigen and activity. PAI-1 was localised in tissues by an immunochemical method, using monoclonal antibodies. PAI-1 occurred throughout the body; its concentration and activity differed considerably from organ to organ. Extracts of liver and spleen had the greatest abundance of PAI-1, but the activity of the inhibitor was much higher in liver than in spleen: the liver may be a source of plasma PAI-1. Immunochemical staining for PAI-1 was observed in endothelium, platelets and their precursor cells, the megakaryocytes, and locations central to the process of haemostasis. PAI-1 also occurred in neutrophil polymorphs and macrophages, cells important in inflammatory and immune processes, but not in lymphocytes. Other cell types, in particular, vascular smooth muscle cells and mesangial cells, also stained positively for PAI-1 and such cells seem to represent an important reservoir of PAI-1.     

Ontogenic development of T and B cells and non-lymphoid cells in the white pulp of human spleen.

The ontogenic development of lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells in human splenic white pulp was studied histologically with immunoperoxidase technique, together with that of lymphoid cells from fetal liver, bone marrow and thymus by membrane immunofluorescence assay. The primitive white pulp, which appeared as small accumulations of lymphocytes around arterioles at 14 weeks of gestation (g.w.), was mainly composed of B1 antigen-positive B cells. After the appearance of follicular structure accompanied by follicular dendritic cells (FDC) stained with anti-DRC1 antibody at 26 g.w., these perivascular structures of B cells were located in the periphery of the white pulp areas. A large number of B cells composing the perivascular structure had surface IgM (sIgM) and IgD (sIgD) from the earliest stage (14 g.w.), although this type of B cell with mature phenotype was seldom observed in fetal liver or bone marrow at this stage. It was suggested that the spleen is an important site for B-cell maturation from sIg-negative B cells observed in 10-14 g.w. fetal liver, and that FDC are not involved in this development of B cells. The organization of 9.6 antigen-positive T cells around arterioles developed 4 weeks later than that of B cells, at 18 g.w., although 11 g.w. fetal thymocytes already showed a phenotype very similar to that of infants. Interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC) stained with anti-S-100 protein serum appeared from 14 g.w. before the T-cell organization, suggesting that IDC may play an essential role in the homing of T cells.     

免疫组化技术分析人淋巴组织的多种分化抗原

用间接免疫过氧化物酶和PAP技术检测本室制备的31种抗人分化抗原单抗与淋巴组织的反应性.结果表明,CD3、CD5单抗与扁桃腺和淋巴结的T细胞、大部分成熟髓质胸腺细胞和脾白髓的中央动脉周围淋巴鞘呈非常强的反应.CD4~+细胞在扁桃腺的分布与CD3~+细胞类似,但数量稍少.只有少部扁桃腺和淋巴结T细胞与CD8单抗反应,CD8单抗主要染大部分胸腺皮质细胞,但抗CD8单抗与脾窦的内皮细胞呈强阳性交叉反应.Wu59单抗同时与扁桃腺、淋巴结和脾脏的T、B细胞呈非常强的膜染色,并与胸腺皮质和髓质细胞呈阳性反应,该单抗可能识别白细胞共同抗原或LFA-1.Wu 26.145单抗除与扁桃腺生发中心呈弱阳性反应外,还与脾红髓窦状结构内的血小板呈强阳性反应.此外,抗B细胞及其亚群单抗与扁桃腺、淋巴结、脾白髓生发中心呈强阳性反应.抗IL-2受体单抗与上述组织基本上呈阴性反应。     

LAT (linker for activation of T cells): a useful marker for megakaryocyte evaluation on bone marrow biopsies

Detection of atypical megakaryocytes in bone marrow biopsies, especially in cases of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD) and acute leukemias, is facilitated by staining for markers such as Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA)-J, CD31, CD61 and von Willebrand factor (VWF), the latter being considered the most sensitive. Recently, LAT (linker for activation of T cells), a molecule involved in T-cell activation and platelet aggregation, was found to be expressed by megakaryocytes and platelets in tissue sections. We compared VWF and LAT immunoreactivity on megakaryocytes in 64 bone marrow biopsies from 12 normal controls (NC), and from patients with MDS (n=18), CMPD (n=21) and acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AML-M7, n=13). Immunostaining was performed on paraffin sections with polyclonal antibodies against VWF and LAT. Immunoreactivity was evaluated by counting positive megakaryocytes in 10 high-power fields, and values were compared using Student's t test for paired data. Both VWF and LAT predominantly stained the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes, although LAT was also recognizable on the cell membrane. In most biopsies, the immunoreactivity of the two antibodies was quite similar. No significant differences were noticed between the mean values of VWF+ and LAT+ megakaryocytes. However, in 22 cases (5 NC; 5 MDS; 6 CMPD; 6 AML-M7), the number of LAT+ megakaryocytes was at least 30% higher than VWF+cells, while in 3 cases opposite findings were found. In 3 AML-M7 cases, anti-LAT antibodies stained numerous megakaryocytes, but anti-VWF staining was practically negative; in another 5 AML-M7 cases, anti-LAT labeling was much stronger than anti-VWF staining. LAT represents a useful immunohistochemical marker for megakaryocytes in normal and pathological conditions. It seems to be expressed by megakaryocytes more than VWF in most cases and, particularly, in conditions associated with poorly differentiated megakaryocytes, such as acute megakaryocytic leukemias. The use of LAT staining should be recommended in association with other megakaryocyte markers in the study of bone marrow biopsies in cases of hematopoietic disorders.     

Megakaryocyte synthesis is the source of epidermal growth factor in human platelets.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be present in the alpha granules of human platelets; however the source of this EGF, ie, whether it is taken up by the platelets from the circulation, or whether it is packaged into the platelets from the megakaryocyte during thrombopoiesis, is unknown. To determine whether EGF is taken up by platelets, platelets for EGF receptors were assayed and it was attempted to detect uptake of EGF by the platelets from culture medium. Platelets were found to lack EGF receptors, and no uptake of EGF from the culture medium was detected. To assess whether EGF is packaged into platelets from the megakaryocyte, megakaryocytes in frozen section bone marrow cores were stained for EGF protein by immunohistochemistry, and it was demonstrated that EGF is present in megakaryocytes. In addition, staining of megakaryocytes by in situ hybridization for EGF mRNA demonstrated its presence in these cells. Therefore it is concluded that the source of EGF in human platelets is the megakaryocyte and that this EGF is synthesized in the megakaryocyte rather than being taken up from its environment.