A new study has revealed how platelets may regulate monocyte function, revealing a new and significant role in the immune system.
German researchers studied patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), finding that a low platelet count leads to ‘immunoparalysis’, a condition affecting monocytes characterised by a disturbed cytokine reaction and reduced ability to respond to infection. The artificial removal of platelets from healthy monocytes also triggered immunoparalysis.
The researchers, reporting in EMBO Molecular Medicine, found that supplementing with platelets can reverse this immunoparalysis.
Studying further, the team found a number of signalling proteins transferred by platelets into monocytes to maintain inflammation levels during infection. These include NF-κB and p38 MAPK. They say this points to a new intercellular communication mechanism, via platelet vesicles.
Study leader Professor Bernardo Franklin, of the University of Bonn, said: “Clinically, this suggests potential therapeutic strategies to counteract monocyte immune paralysis in conditions such as ITP and other inflammatory diseases with the addition of platelets.”
Source:
Hawwari I, Rossnagel L, Rosero N, Maasewerd S, Vasconcelos MB, Jentzsch M, Demczuk A, Teichmann LL, Meffert L, Bertheloot D, Ribeiro LS, Kallabis S, Meissner F, Arditi M, Atici AE, Noval Rivas M, Franklin BS. (2024) “Platelet transcription factors license the pro-inflammatory cytokine response of human monocytes.” EMBO Molecular Medicine, 8 July 2024, doi: 10.1038/s44321-024-00093-3.
Link: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44321-024-00093-3
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