Thromb Haemost 2012; 108(04): 599-604
DOI: 10.1160/TH12-03-0211
Theme Issue Article
Schattauer GmbH

MicroRNAs in platelet biogenesis and function

Seema Dangwal
1   Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
,
Thomas Thum
1   Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
2   Centre for Clinical and Basic Research, IRCCS San Raffaele, Rome, Italy
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 31 March 2012

Accepted: 03 May 2012

Publication Date:
29 November 2017 (online)

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.