Seema Dawood: Platelet Production and the Role of Thrombopoietin
Seema Dawood, Medical Laboratory Technologist at The Aga Khan University Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Thrombopoiesis (Platelet Production)
Thrombopoiesis is the process of Platelet (Thrombocyte) formation from Hematopoietic precursor cells in the bone marrow.
Platelet Lineage (Stages of Thrombopoiesis)
1.Megakaryoblast
Round nucleus with visible nucleoli, Deeply basophilic cytoplasm , No platelet production at this stage
2.Promegakaryocyte
Larger cell size, Onset of endomitosis , DNA replication without cytokinesis , Cytoplasm becomes more abundant
3.Megakaryocyte
Largest cell in the bone marrow, Polyploid nucleus (8N–64N) due to repeated endomitosis , Cytoplasm divided into platelet territories, Active platelet producing stage
4.Platelets (Thrombocytes)
Small anucleate cell fragments, Released from the cytoplasm of megakaryocytes into the circulation
Mechanism of Platelet Formation
- Megakaryocytes extend cytoplasmic projections called Proplatelets into bone marrow sinusoids
- Cytoplasm fragments into individual platelets
- One mega karyocyte can produce ~1,000–3,000 platelets
Role of Thrombopoietin (TPO)
- Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the primary hormone regulating thrombopoiesis.
- Produced by: Liver (main source), Kidneys , Bone marrow stromal cells
- Stimulates Megakaryocyte proliferation , Promotes endomitosis, Enhances platelet production
Low Platelet count leads to increased TPO levels
High Platelet count leads to decreased TPO levels (bound and cleared by platelets)
Platelet Circulating lifespan: approximately 7–10 days
Removed mainly by the spleen, and partially by the liver
Megakaryoblast develops into promegakaryocyte, which develops into megakaryocyte, which produces platelets.”
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