Summary
Platelets are important to maintain primary haemostasis and play a key role in pathology
of thrombotic and occlusive vascular disorders such as acute coronary syndrome or
stroke. Despite of lacking a nucleus and genomic DNA, platelets possess diverse types
of RNAs, ranging from protein coding messenger RNAs to small non-coding RNAs inherited
from their parent megakaryocytes. Indeed, platelets are capable of using their own
translational machinery to synthesise proteins upon their activation suggesting the
possibility of post-transcriptional gene regulation in platelets. MicroRNAs (miRNAs)
are highly conserved, tiny non-coding RNAs exhibiting a fine-tune control of protein
expression by complementary sequence recognition, binding and translational repression
of protein coding mRNA transcripts. Multiple functional aspects of miRNAs as well
as their expression in platelets or megakaryocytes underscore a role in platelet biology.
Changes in miRNA expression patterns have been noted during platelet genesis and activation.
In the present review we highlight recently identified megakaryocytic/platelet miRNAs
and discuss their role in platelet biogenesis and functions essential to maintain
haemostasis in the body.
Keywords
Platelet reactivity - megakaryocytopoiesis - platelet miRNA - P2Y12