12月8日，Nature杂志在线发表了来自法、英、美、意等多国研究人员的研究成果，研究发现53个基因组位点，它们与血小板的数量和体积有可靠关联。
血小板参与止血作用，血小板的数量和体积受到严格控制。研究者对在超过65,000人当中进行的全基因组关联研究的结果所做的这项“元分析”，识别出53个基因组位点，它们与血小板的数量和体积有可靠关联。这些位点优先与基因编码区域对应，其中很多都在一个“蛋白-蛋白”相互作用网络中。用斑马鱼和果蝇所做的功能实验表明，这些新发现的基因当中有11个编码血细胞形成过程的新颖调控因子。（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1038/nature10659
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New gene functions in megakaryopoiesis and platelet formation
Christian Gieger, Aparna Radhakrishnan, Ana Cvejic, Weihong Tang, Eleonora Porcu, Giorgio Pistis, Jovana Serbanovic-Canic, Serena Sanna, Andrew A. Hicks, Augusto Rendon, Manuel A. Ferreira, Willem H. Ouwehand & Nicole Soranzo
Platelets are the second most abundant cell type in blood and are essential for maintaining haemostasis. Their count and volume are tightly controlled within narrow physiological ranges, but there is only limited understanding of the molecular processes controlling both traits. Here we carried out a high-powered meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in up to 66,867 individuals of European ancestry, followed by extensive biological and functional assessment. We identified 68 genomic loci reliably associated with platelet count and volume mapping to established and putative novel regulators of megakaryopoiesis and platelet formation. These genes show megakaryocyte-specific gene expression patterns and extensive network connectivity. Using gene silencing in Danio rerio and Drosophila melanogaster, we identified 11 of the genes as novel regulators of blood cell formation. Taken together, our findings advance understanding of novel gene functions controlling fate-determining events during megakaryopoiesis and platelet formation, providing a new example of successful translation of GWAS to function.
