Frontiers in Immunology (Jan 2018)

From Human Megakaryocytes to Platelets: Effects of Aspirin on High-Mobility Group Box 1/Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Axis

  • Stefania Mardente,
  • Emanuela Mari,
  • Isabella Massimi,
  • Marco Tafani,
  • Marco Tafani,
  • Raffaella Guerriero,
  • Ornella Morsilli,
  • Fabio M. Pulcinelli,
  • Marco E. Bianchi,
  • Alessandra Zicari

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01946
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

Read online

Platelets (PLTs) are the major source of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a protein that is involved in sterile inflammation of blood vessels and thrombosis. Megakaryocytes (MKs) synthesize HMGB1 and transfer both protein and mRNA into PLTs and PLT-derived microvesicles (MV). Free HMGB1 found in supernatants of in vitro differentiated MKs and in a megakaryoblastic cell line (DAMI cells). Aspirin “in vivo” and “in vitro” not only reduces HMGB1 and receptor for advanced glycation end products expression on MKs and PLTs but also drives the movement of HMGB1 from MKs into PLTs and PLT-derived MV. These findings suggest that consumption of low doses of aspirin reduces the risk of atherosclerosis complications as well as reducing PLT aggregation by the inhibition of COX-1.

Keywords