Platelets are transfused for a wide range of thrombotic deficiencies, but there are problems. Platelet collection typically requires pooling harvests from multiple donors. Platelet transfusion risks from bacterial contamination, blood-borne pathogens, and alloimmunization are compounded because patients receive platelets from many donors. Production of autologous or compatible platelets by megakaryocytic cells (Mks) derived from cultured hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs or CD34+ cells) would greatly decrease these risks. However, generating 500 billion platelets for a single transfusion using culture conditions that yield relatively pure (e 75%) Mk populations would require 250 million CD34+ cells. This is equivalent to more than 50 umbilical cord blood harvests or 1-2 harvests of HSPCs from the peripheral blood of donors treated (or mobilized) with growth factors. In order for culture-derived platelet production to be economically feasible, it will be necessary to produce more Mk progenitors per CD34+ cell, obtain a greater number of Mks per Mk progenitor, and increase Mk ploidy (platelet- producing potential). Our objective is to increase the ploidy of culture-derived Mks to levels similar to those found in human bone marrow. We have shown that the vitamin nicotinamide (NIC) greatly increases Mk ploidy in culture. Since Mks in vivo produce several thousand platelets, we anticipate that Mks produced in culture with NIC could generate 1000 platelets. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for NIC-mediated increases in Mk ploidy will facilitate regulatory approval for using NIC to produce platelets for transplantation and is likely to lead to the discovery of even more effective conditions for Mk polyploidization. We propose to use RNA-interference-mediated knockdown to test the hypothesis, based on our preliminary results, that NIC increases Mk ploidy via inhibition of the SIRT1 and SIRT2 Class III histone/protein deacetylases. We will then examine changes in the acetylation of SIRT target proteins involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and/or apoptosis. Finally, we will investigate the roles in megakaryopoiesis of the most promising SIRT targets.

Public Health Relevance

Platelet transfusions are used for a wide range of thrombotic deficiencies and several million units are transfused each year in the USA and Europe. Production of patient-specific or compatible platelets by megakaryocytic cells derived from blood stem cells in culture using Good Manufacturing Practices would greatly decrease adverse immune responses from platelet transfusions, as well as bacterial and viral contamination, but many challenges remain to be addressed. A better understanding of the mechanisms that underlie megakaryocytic differentiation and the development of efficient processes for megakaryocytic progenitor cell proliferation and for the generation and maturation of megakaryocytic cells would bring the large-scale production of culture-derived platelets closer to fruition.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL093083-02
Application #
7929581
Study Section
Bioengineering, Technology and Surgical Sciences Study Section (BTSS)
Program Officer
Thomas, John
Project Start
2009-09-15
Project End
2012-02-29
Budget Start
2010-09-01
Budget End
2012-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$342,950
Indirect Cost
Name
Northwestern University at Chicago
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
160079455
City
Evanston
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60201
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Konieczna, Iwona M; DeLuca, Teresa A; Eklund, Elizabeth A et al. (2016) Hoxa10 null animals exhibit reduced platelet biogenesis. Br J Haematol 173:303-13
Ojima, Yoshihiro; Duncan, Mark Thompson; Nurhayati, Retno Wahyu et al. (2013) Synergistic effect of hydrogen peroxide on polyploidization during the megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 leukemia cells by PMA. Exp Cell Res 319:2205-15
Kuo, Hsin-Yu; DeLuca, Teresa A; Miller, William M et al. (2013) Profiling deacetylase activities in cell lysates with peptide arrays and SAMDI mass spectrometry. Anal Chem 85:10635-10642
Konieczna, Iwona M; Panuganti, Swapna; DeLuca, Teresa A et al. (2013) Administration of nicotinamide does not increase platelet levels in mice. Blood Cells Mol Dis 50:171-6