C1galt1-deficient mice exhibit thrombocytopenia due to abnormal terminal differentiation of megakaryocytes

Blood. 2013 Aug 29;122(9):1649-57. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-12-471102. Epub 2013 Jun 21.

Abstract

C1galt1 is essential for synthesis of the core 1 structure of mucin-type O-glycans. To clarify the physiological role of O-glycans in adult hematopoiesis, we exploited the interferon-inducible Mx1-Cre transgene to conditionally ablate the C1galt(flox) allele (Mx1-C1). Mx1-C1 mice exhibit severe thrombocytopenia, giant platelets, and prolonged bleeding times. Both the number and DNA ploidy of megakaryocytes in Mx1-C1 bone marrow were similar to those in wild-type (WT) mice. However, there were few proplatelets in Mx1-C1 primary megakaryocytes. Conversely, bone marrow transplanted from Mx1-C1 to WT and splenectomized Mx1-C1 mice gave rise to observations similar to those described above. The expression of GPIbα messenger RNA was unchanged in Mx1-C1 bone marrow, whereas flow cytometric and western blot analyses using megakaryocytes and platelets revealed that the expression of GPIbα protein was significantly reduced in Mx1-C1 mice. Moreover, circulating Mx1-C1 platelets exhibited an increase in the number of microtubule coils, despite normal levels of α- and β-tubulin. Our observations suggest that O-glycan is required for terminal megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet production and that the decrease in GPIbα in cells lacking O-glycan might be caused by increased proteolysis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Galactosyltransferases / genetics*
  • Galactosyltransferases / physiology
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Male
  • Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells / metabolism
  • Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells / physiology
  • Megakaryocytes / metabolism
  • Megakaryocytes / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Thrombocytopenia / genetics*
  • Thrombocytopenia / pathology
  • Thrombocytopenia / physiopathology
  • Thrombopoiesis / genetics

Substances

  • C1galt1 protein, mouse
  • Galactosyltransferases