Megakaryocyte (MK) is the naturally polyploid cell that gives rise to platelets. Polyploidization occurs by endomitosis, which was a process considered to be an incomplete mitosis aborted in anaphase. Here, we used time-lapse confocal video microscopy to visualize the endomitotic process of primary human megakaryocytes. Our results show that the switch from mitosis to endomitosis corresponds to a late failure of cytokinesis accompa-

megakaryocytes are unique mammalian cells that undergo polyploidization (endomitosis) during differentiation, leading to an increase in cell size and protein production that precedes platelet production. Recent evidence demonstrates that endomitosis is a consequence of a late failure in cytokinesis associated with a contractile ring defect. Here we show that the non-muscle myosin IIB heavy chain (mYH10) is expressed in immature megakaryocytes and specifically localizes in the contractile ring. mYH10 downmodulation by short hairpin RnA increases polyploidization by inhibiting the return of 4n cells to 2n, but other regulators, such as of the G1/s transition, might regulate further polyploidization of the 4n cells. Conversely, re-expression of mYH10 in the megakaryocytes prevents polyploidization and the transition of 2n to 4n cells. During polyploidization, mYH10 expression is repressed by the major megakaryocyte transcription factor RunX1. Thus, RunX1-mediated silencing of mYH10 is required for the switch from mitosis to endomitosis, linking polyploidization with megakaryocyte differentiation.

Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is caused by aberrant ribosomal biogenesis due to ribosomal protein (RP) gene mutations. To develop mechanistic understanding of DBA pathogenesis, we studied CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of DBA patients carrying RPL11 and RPS19 ribosomal gene mutations and determined their ability to undergo erythroid differentiation in vitro. RPS19 mutations induced a decrease in proliferation of progenitor cells, but the terminal erythroid differentiation was normal with little or no apoptosis. This phenotype was related to a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest associated with activation of the p53 pathway. In marked contrast, RPL11 mutations led to a dramatic decrease in progenitor cell proliferation and a delayed erythroid differentiation with a marked increase in apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest with activation of p53. Infection of cord blood CD34+ cells with specific short hairpin (sh) RNAs against RPS19 or RPL11 recapitulated the two distinct phenotypes in concordance with findings from primary cells. In both cases, the phenotype has been reverted by shRNA p53 knockdown. These results show that p53 pathway activation has an important role in pathogenesis of DBA and can be independent of the RPL11 pathway. These findings shed new insights into the pathogenesis of DBA.

Summary. Each day in every human, approximately 1 · 10 11 platelets are produced by the cytoplasmic fragmentation of megakaryocytes (MK), their marrow precursor cells. Platelets are the predominating factor in the process of hemostasis and thrombosis. Recent studies have shown that platelets also play a hitherto unsuspected role in several other processes such as inflammation, innate immunity, neoangiogenesis and tumor metastasis. The late phases of MK differentiation identified by polyploidization, maturation and organized fragmentation of the cytoplasm leading to the release of platelets in the blood stream represent a unique model of differentiation. The molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating platelet biogenesis are better understood and may explain several platelet disorders. This review focuses on MK polyploidization, and platelet formation, and discusses their alteration in some platelet disorders.

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Key Points• DIAPH1 (mDia1) is involved in both Rho-mediated actin polymerization and microtubule assembly and stability during proplatelet formation.Megakaryocytes are highly specialized precursor cells that produce platelets via cytoplasmic extensions called proplatelets. Proplatelet formation (PPF) requires profound changes in microtubule and actin organization. In this work, we demonstrated that DIAPH1 (mDia1), a mammalian homolog of Drosophila diaphanous that works as an effector of the small GTPase Rho, negatively regulates PPF by controlling the dynamics of the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. Moreover, we showed that inhibition of both DIAPH1 and the Rho-associated protein kinase (Rock)/myosin pathway increased PPF via coordination of both cytoskeletons. We provide evidence that 2 major effectors of the Rho GTPase pathway (DIAPH1 and Rock/myosin II) are involved not only in Rho-mediated stress fibers assembly, but also in the regulation of microtubule stability and dynamics during PPF. (Blood. 2014;124(26):3967-3977)

Polyploidization of megakaryocytes (MKs), the platelet precursors, occurs by endomitosis, a mitotic process that fails at late stages of cytokinesis. Expression and function of Aurora B kinase during endomitosis remain controversial. Here, we report that Aurora B is normally expressed during the human MK endomitotic process. Aurora B localized normally in the midzone or midbody during anaphase and telophase in low ploidy megakaryocytes and in up to 16N rare endomitotic MKs was observed. Aurora B was also functional during cytokinesis as attested by phosphorylation of both its activation site and MgcRacGAP, its main substrate. However, despite its activation, Aurora B did not prevent furrow regression. Inhibition of Aurora B by AZD1152-HQPA decreased cell cycle entry both in 2N to 4N and polyploid MKs and induced apoptosis mainly in 2N to 4N cells. In both MK classes, AZD1152-HQPA induced p53 activation and retinoblastoma hypophosphorylation. Resistance of polyploid MKs to apoptosis correlated to a high BclxL level. Aurora B inhibition did not impair MK polyploidization but profoundly modified the endomitotic process by inducing a mis-segregation of chromosomes and a mitotic failure in anaphase. This indicates that Aurora B is dispensable for MK polyploidization but is necessary to achieve a normal endomitotic process. (Blood. 2010;116(13):2345-2355) IntroductionMegakaryocytes (MKs) are the hematopoietic cells that produce platelets. During differentiation, MKs undergo a unique mode of cell cycle called endomitosis that corresponds to an incomplete multipolar mitosis characterized by failure of both nuclear (karyokinesis) and cytoplasmic division (cytokinesis). It was considered that MK endomitosis was similar to a mitotic failure in anaphase without cleavage furrow formation. 1,2 However, 3 recent reports have shown that the switch from mitosis to endomitosis corresponds to a late failure of cytokinesis, [3][4][5] probably because of an abnormal contractile ring. 4 The structure of the central spindle in MKs, another major regulator of cytokinesis, has also been a matter of debate. 4,[6][7][8][9][10] However, recent reports in human MKs underscored its normal organization. 4,6 Aurora B kinase is a member of a growing family of chromosomal passenger proteins that change their subcellular localization during mitosis. Aurora B is associated with chromosomes during prophase, with inner centromeres during metaphase and early anaphase, and with the midzone and midbody during late anaphase and telophase. 11-13 Aurora B activity depends on its association with other chromosome passenger proteins (INCENP, Borealin, and survivin) as well as its autophosphorylation at threonine 232 (Thr232) located in the activating loop. 14 Aurora B is essential for mitosis and cytokinesis. 15,16 Aurora B is involved in chromosome congression at metaphase and chromosome separation at anaphase. One of the main Aurora B kinase substrate is MgcRacGAP. Phosphorylation of the GAP domain at serine 387 (Ser387) by Aurora B converts MgcRacGAP to ...

TP53 also known as p53 is a tumor suppressor gene mutated in a variety of cancers. P53 is involved in cell cycle, apoptosis and DNA repair mechanisms and is thus tightly controlled by many regulators. Recently, strategies to treat cancer have focused on the development of MDM2 antagonists to induce p53 stabilization and restore cell death in p53 non-mutated cancers. However, some of these molecules display adverse effects in patients including induction of thrombocytopenia. In the present study, we have explored the effect of SAR405838 not only on human megakaryopoiesis but also more generally on hematopoiesis. We compared its effect to MI-219 and Nutlin, which are less potent MDM2 antagonists than SAR405838. We found that all these compounds induce a deleterious effect on all types of hematopoietic progenitors, as well as on erythroid and megakaryocytic differentiation. Moreover, they inhibit both early and late stages of megakaryopoiesis including ploidization and proplatelet formation. In conclusion, MDM2 antagonists induced a major hematopoietic defect in vitro as well as an inhibition of all stages of megakaryopoiesis that may account for in vivo thrombocytopenia observed in treated patients.