In humans, von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a key component in hemostasis and acts as a 'cellular adhesive' by letting the circulating platelets bind to exposed subendothelium. It also acts as a carrier and stabilizer of factor VIII (FVIII). A dysfunction or reduction of vWF leads to von Willebrand disease (vWD), resulting in bleeding phenotype which affects 1% of the population. Currently there are a variety of animal models used for the study of vWF and vWD; however, they do not possess the advantages found in zebrafish. Therefore, we set out to establish zebrafish as a model for the investigation of vWF and vWD through the use of bioinformatics and various molecular techniques. Using bioinformatics we found that the vWF gene is located on chromosome 18, that the GPIb? protein sequence is conserved. Confirmation of vWF production was shown by means of immunostaining and by RT-PCR, in thrombocytes as well as in veins and arteries. Evidence of vWF involvement in hemostasis and thrombosis was shown using MO and VMO technology to produce a vWD like phenotype, resulting in an increase in TTO and TTA, as well as a reduction in FVIII when blood was tested using the kPTT assay, coinciding with a decrease in vWF. Stimate treatment provided opposite results of MO and VMO, showing a decrease in TTO and TTA. Investigation of the role of microparticles in hemostasis and their interaction with vWF resulted in a conclusion that the GPIb? receptor should exist on MPs and that it may interact not only with zebrafish vWF but also with human UL-vWF. Agglutination of MPs in the presence of UL-vWF but in the absence of ristocetin and plasma, treatment with ADAMTS-13 abolishing the interaction between MPs and UL-vWF provided evidence that vWF interacts with MPs probably with the GPIb?. We also found that TMPs agglutinate within the vessel wall in vivo when treated with Stimate. In conclusion, this research provided evidence for the presence of vWF in zebrafish and its conserved role in hemostasis. In addition to this we also showed that MPs also participation in hemostasis.

Tissue factor (TF), a 47 kDa glycoprotein, is the initiator of the extrinsic pathway of blood coagulation and consequently of the upmost importance when damage to blood vessel occurs. The source of TF in circulation has been investigated. However, the source of TF is still not clear. One theory is that platelets express and increases the expression of TF after stimulation and the aim of our report was to investigate whether platelets really are a source for TF in circulation. Using specific primers for TF mRNA, platelets in plasma from healthy volunteers and from patients suffering from cardiac infarction were analyzed by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gel electrophoresis was performed after amplification of TF mRNA to verify the results. The samples were negative for TF when using real-time PCR and the few positive all had cycle threshold (Ct) values above 35. The contamination by monocytes was analyzed by using real-time PCR, with primers for CD14 and showed low amounts. After analysis, our conclusion was that platelets do not express TF. Although some samples had positive real-time PCR, the Ct values were all above 35, meaning they had very few transcripts in the initial samples and that the biological importance is uncertain. Since contamination of CD14 positive cells were found in most samples it can’t be ruled out that the origin of the positive TF mRNA is from monocytes.

In this study, a novel method based on biotinylated antibodies and streptavidin coated magnetic beads was used to separate the thrombocyte subpopulations from zebrafish whole blood. DiI-C18, a lipophilic dye, labels only young thrombocytes when used at low concentrations. Commercially available biotinylated anti-Cy3 antibody was used to label the chromophore of DiI-C18 on the young thrombocytes and streptavidin coated magnetic beads were added subsequently, to separate young thrombocytes. The remaining blood cells were probed with custom-made biotinylated anti-GPIIb antibody and streptavidin magnetic beads to separate them from other cells. Further, thrombocytes are equivalents of mammalian platelets. Platelets play a crucial role in thrombus formation. The G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) present on the platelet surface are involved during platelet activation and aggregation processes. So, thrombocytes were studied for the presence of GPCRs. The GPCR mRNA transcripts expressed in the young and mature thrombocytes were subjected to densitometry analysis and pixel intensities of the bands were compared using one way ANOVA. This analysis did not show significant differences between the young and mature GPCR mRNA transcripts but identified a novel GPCR, GPR18 that was not reported in platelets earlier. To study the function of this GPCR, it was knocked down using GPR18 specific antisense morpholino and vivo morpholino. The immunofluorescence experiment indicated the presence of GPR18 on thrombocytes. The results of the assays, such as, time to occlusion (TTO) and time to aggregation (TTA) in response to N-arachidonyl glycine (NAG) as an agonist, showed prolongation of time in GPR18 larval and adult morphants respectively, suggesting that GPR18 plays a role in thrombus formation in zebrafish. In conclusion, our results indicate that GPR18 may be present in zebrafish thrombocytes, it may be involved in thrombus formation and that NAG may be an agonist at GPR18 on thrombocytes.

A hemostasia previne a perda de sangue após uma lesão vascular e garante a fluidez sanguínea. Para isso há a participação de células carreadoras de fator tissular e também de plaquetas, além de fatores plasmáticos, cofatores, fosfolipídios e íons cálcio que resultam na liberação dos fibrinopeptídios do fibrinogênio e polimerização dos monômeros de fibrina, transformando-os em fibrina estável. Os polifosfatos também participam da ativação da via intrínseca da cascata de coagulação ativando o fator XII e a pré-calicreína plasmática. Os répteis possuem peculiaridades quanto ao mecanismo de coagulação, apresentando níveis altos de anticoagulantes circulantes e ausência ou deficiência de alguns fatores de coagulação. Pouco se sabe sobre a participação real dos trombócitos e polifosfatos no mecanismo hemostático de serpentes. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o mecanismo hemostático da serpente de C.d. terrificus, avaliando também o papel dos trombócitos e dos polifosfatos. Os testes de coagulação apresentaram tempos prolongados, mas o nível de fibrinogênio (227, 47 ± 20,38 g/dL) foi semelhante ao humano. Foi constatada a presença de FXII, que foi ativado pelos polifosfatos, reduzindo o tempo de coagulação em Rotem. Os trombócitos de C.d. terrificus (13,37 ± 1,22 x 109/L) são células nucleadas elipsoidais, que apresentam superfície lisa quando não estão ativados. Esses trombócitos agregaram com colágeno 5,84 ± 0,85 Ω) e cálcio ionóforo (24 ± 3,3 %). Porém, não ativaram com ADP, como previamente mostrado em outros répteis. A adesão trombocitária observada (1,25 ± 0,37 %) foi mais baixa do que em seres humanos (11%), lembrando que a adaptação do método usado não foi totalmente adequada às serpentes. Embora se saiba pouco sobre a importância das variações das características morfológicas das fibras de fibrina, que em C.d. terrificus diferem das de ratos, humanos e outras espécies descritas de mamíferos, o tipo dessa rede de fibrina pode estar influenciando no processo final da hemostasia, juntamente com a participação dos trombócitos. A eficácia do mecanismo hemostático em serpentes C.d. terrificus parece estar relacionada principalmente à ativação da coagulação pelo fator tissular. Assim, a fase de iniciação é tão eficiente quanto em mamíferos, diferindo mais na fase de propagação do coágulo, ou seja, na via intrínseca. A baixa concentração de alguns fatores de coagulação e níveis elevados de inibidores naturais, tais como a antitrombina, interfere nesse sistema mais lento e possivelmente diminui os riscos trombóticos / Hemostasis prevents blood loss after vascular injury and provides the blood flow. Platelets and tissue factor bearing cell, plasma factors, cofactors, phospholipids and calcium ions participate in this process that results in the release of fibrinogen fibrinopeptides and polymerization of fibrin monomers, converting to stable fibrin. Polyphosphates also participate in the activation of the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade by activating factor XII and plasma prekallikrein. The peculiarities of blood coagulation of reptiles are high levels of circulating anticoagulants and absence or low level of some coagulation factors. The role of thrombocytes and polyphosphates in the hemostatic mechanism of snakes is not well known. The objective of this study was to investigate the hemostatic mechanism of C.d. terrificus snake evaluating the role of thrombocytes and polyphosphates. Coagulation tests showed prolonged times, but the level of fibrinogen (227.47 ± 20.38 g/dL) was similar to human. It was also observed the presence of FXII activated by polyphosphates reducing the clotting time in Rotem. Thrombocytes of C.d. terrificus (13.37 ± 1.22 x 109/L) are ellipsoidal nucleated cells, which exhibit smooth surface when not activated. These thrombocytes were activated by collagen (5.84 ± 0.85 Ω) and calcium ionophore (24 ± 3.3%). However, they did not aggregate with ADP as previously shown in other reptiles. The thrombocytes adhesiveness observed (1.25 ± 0.37%) was lower than in humans (11%), probably, in part because the adaptation of the method used was not fully adequate to snakes. Although little is known about the importance of morphological characteristics of C.d. terrificus fibrin fibers, which differ from rat, human and other mammalian species described, possibly this type of fibrin network may influence the final stages of hemostasis, with thrombocytes participation. The efficacy of the hemostatic mechanism in C.d. terrificus snakes seems to be mainly related to the activation of coagulation by tissue factor. Thus, the initiation phase is as efficient as in mammals, differing in the propagation phase of coagulation or intrinsic pathway. The low concentration of some coagulation factors and high levels of natural inhibitors such as antithrombin may be interfering with that system, and also preventing thrombotic diseases

A hemostasia previne a perda de sangue após uma lesão vascular e garante a fluidez sanguínea. Para isso há a participação de células carreadoras de fator tissular e também de plaquetas, além de fatores plasmáticos, cofatores, fosfolipídios e íons cálcio que resultam na liberação dos fibrinopeptídios do fibrinogênio e polimerização dos monômeros de fibrina, transformando-os em fibrina estável. Os polifosfatos também participam da ativação da via intrínseca da cascata de coagulação ativando o fator XII e a pré-calicreína plasmática. Os répteis possuem peculiaridades quanto ao mecanismo de coagulação, apresentando níveis altos de anticoagulantes circulantes e ausência ou deficiência de alguns fatores de coagulação. Pouco se sabe sobre a participação real dos trombócitos e polifosfatos no mecanismo hemostático de serpentes. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o mecanismo hemostático da serpente de C.d. terrificus, avaliando também o papel dos trombócitos e dos polifosfatos. Os testes de coagulação apresentaram tempos prolongados, mas o nível de fibrinogênio (227, 47 ± 20,38 g/dL) foi semelhante ao humano. Foi constatada a presença de FXII, que foi ativado pelos polifosfatos, reduzindo o tempo de coagulação em Rotem. Os trombócitos de C.d. terrificus (13,37 ± 1,22 x 109/L) são células nucleadas elipsoidais, que apresentam superfície lisa quando não estão ativados. Esses trombócitos agregaram com colágeno 5,84 ± 0,85 Ω) e cálcio ionóforo (24 ± 3,3 %). Porém, não ativaram com ADP, como previamente mostrado em outros répteis. A adesão trombocitária observada (1,25 ± 0,37 %) foi mais baixa do que em seres humanos (11%), lembrando que a adaptação do método usado não foi totalmente adequada às serpentes. Embora se saiba pouco sobre a importância das variações das características morfológicas das fibras de fibrina, que em C.d. terrificus diferem das de ratos, humanos e outras espécies descritas de mamíferos, o tipo dessa rede de fibrina pode estar influenciando no processo final da hemostasia, juntamente com a participação dos trombócitos. A eficácia do mecanismo hemostático em serpentes C.d. terrificus parece estar relacionada principalmente à ativação da coagulação pelo fator tissular. Assim, a fase de iniciação é tão eficiente quanto em mamíferos, diferindo mais na fase de propagação do coágulo, ou seja, na via intrínseca. A baixa concentração de alguns fatores de coagulação e níveis elevados de inibidores naturais, tais como a antitrombina, interfere nesse sistema mais lento e possivelmente diminui os riscos trombóticos / Hemostasis prevents blood loss after vascular injury and provides the blood flow. Platelets and tissue factor bearing cell, plasma factors, cofactors, phospholipids and calcium ions participate in this process that results in the release of fibrinogen fibrinopeptides and polymerization of fibrin monomers, converting to stable fibrin. Polyphosphates also participate in the activation of the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade by activating factor XII and plasma prekallikrein. The peculiarities of blood coagulation of reptiles are high levels of circulating anticoagulants and absence or low level of some coagulation factors. The role of thrombocytes and polyphosphates in the hemostatic mechanism of snakes is not well known. The objective of this study was to investigate the hemostatic mechanism of C.d. terrificus snake evaluating the role of thrombocytes and polyphosphates. Coagulation tests showed prolonged times, but the level of fibrinogen (227.47 ± 20.38 g/dL) was similar to human. It was also observed the presence of FXII activated by polyphosphates reducing the clotting time in Rotem. Thrombocytes of C.d. terrificus (13.37 ± 1.22 x 109/L) are ellipsoidal nucleated cells, which exhibit smooth surface when not activated. These thrombocytes were activated by collagen (5.84 ± 0.85 Ω) and calcium ionophore (24 ± 3.3%). However, they did not aggregate with ADP as previously shown in other reptiles. The thrombocytes adhesiveness observed (1.25 ± 0.37%) was lower than in humans (11%), probably, in part because the adaptation of the method used was not fully adequate to snakes. Although little is known about the importance of morphological characteristics of C.d. terrificus fibrin fibers, which differ from rat, human and other mammalian species described, possibly this type of fibrin network may influence the final stages of hemostasis, with thrombocytes participation. The efficacy of the hemostatic mechanism in C.d. terrificus snakes seems to be mainly related to the activation of coagulation by tissue factor. Thus, the initiation phase is as efficient as in mammals, differing in the propagation phase of coagulation or intrinsic pathway. The low concentration of some coagulation factors and high levels of natural inhibitors such as antithrombin may be interfering with that system, and also preventing thrombotic diseases

Thrombocytes are functional equivalents of mammalian platelets and also possess megakaryocyte features. It has been shown earlier that hox genes play a role in megakaryocyte development. Our earlier microarray analysis showed five hox genes, hoxa10b, hoxb2a, hoxc5a, hoxc11b and hoxd3a, were upregulated in zebrafish thrombocytes. However, there is no comprehensive study of genome wide scan of all the hox genes playing a role in megakaryopoiesis. I first measured the expression levels of each of these hox genes in young and mature thrombocytes and observed that all the above hox genes except hoxc11b were expressed equally in both populations of thrombocytes. hoxc11b was expressed only in young thrombocytes and not in mature thrombocytes. The goals of my study were to comprehensively knockdown hox genes and identify the specific hox genes involved in the development of thrombocytes in zebrafish. However, the existing vivo-morpholino knockdown technology was not capable of performing such genome-wide knockdowns. Therefore, I developed a novel cost- effective knockdown method by designing an antisense oligonucleotides against the target mRNA and piggybacking with standard control morpholino to silence the gene of interest. Also, to perform knockdowns of the hox genes and test for the number of thrombocytes, the available techniques were both cumbersome or required breeding and production of fish where thrombocytes are GFP labeled. Therefore, I established a flow cytometry based method of counting the number of thrombocytes. I used mepacrine to fluorescently label the blood cells and used the white cell fraction. Standard antisense oligonucleotide designed to the central portion of each of the target hox mRNAs, was piggybacked by a control morpholino and intravenously injected into the adult zebrafish. The thrombocyte count was measured 48 hours post injection. In this study, I found that the knockdown of hoxc11b resulted in increased number of thrombocytes and knockdown of hoxa10b, hoxb2a, hoxc5a, and hoxd3a showed reduction in the thrombocyte counts. I then screened the other 47 hox genes in the zebrafish genome using flow sorting method and found that knockdown of hoxa9a and hoxb1a also resulted in decreased thrombocyte number. Further, I used the dye DiI, which labels only young thrombocytes at specific concentrations and observed that the knockdown of hoxa10b, hoxb2a, hoxc5a, hoxd3a, hoxa9a and hoxb1a, lead to a decrease in young thrombocytes; whereas hoxc11b knockdown lead to increase in number of young thrombocytes. Using bromodeoxyuridine, I also showed that there is increase in release of young thrombocytes into peripheral circulation in hoxc11b knockdown fish which suggests that hoxc11b significantly promotes cell proliferation rather effecting apoptosis. In conclusion, I found six hox genes that are positive regulators and one hox gene is a negative regulator for thrombocyte development.

Previous studies have shown that human platelets and megakaryocytes carry microRNAs suggesting their role in platelet function and megakaryocyte development, respectively. However, there is limited information on microRNAs' role in zebrafish thrombopoiesis. Zebrafish thrombocytes could be used as a model to study their role in megakaryocyte maturation and platelet function because thrombocytes have both megakaryocyte features and platelet properties. In our laboratory, I identified 15 microRNAs in thrombocytes using single-cell RNA sequencing. Knockdown of three microRNAs, mir-7148, let-7b, and mir-223, by the piggyback method in zebrafish led to an increase in the percentage of thrombocytes. Functional thrombocyte analysis using plate tilt assay showed no modulatory effect of the three microRNAs on thrombocyte aggregation/agglutination. I then verified these findings in zebrafish larvae after the knockdown of the above microRNAs followed by an arterial laser thrombosis assay. I concluded mir-7148, let-7b, and mir-223 are repressors for thrombocyte production. Furthermore, I explored let-7b downstream genes in thrombocytes detected by RNA-seq analysis and chose 14 targets based on their role in cell differentiation (rorca, tgif1, rfx1a, deaf1, zbtb18, mafba, cebpa, spi1a, spi1b, fhl3b, ikzf1, irf5, irf8, and lbx1b) that are transcriptional regulators. The qRT-PCR analysis of expression levels the above genes following let-7b knockdown showed significant changes in the expression of 13 targets. I then studied the effect of the 14 targets on thrombocytes production and identified 5 genes (irf5, tgif1, irf8, cebpa, and rorca) that showed thrombocytosis and one gene ikzf1 that showed thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, I tested whether mir-223 regulates any of the above 13 transcription factors after mir-223 knockdown using qRT-PCR. Six of the 13 genes showed similar gene expression as observed with let-7b knockdown and 7 genes showed opposing results. Thus, our results suggested a possible regulatory network in common with both let-7b and mir-223. I also identified that tgif1, cebpa, ikzf1, irf5, irf8, and ikzf1 play a role in thrombopoiesis. Since the ikzf1 gene showed a opposite expression profiles following let-7b and mir-223 knockdowns (decreased and increased expression, respectively) and knockdown of ikzf1 resulted in thrombocytopenia I confirmed a definitive role for ikzf1 using an ikzf1 mutant obtained from the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC). The arterial laser thrombosis assay of ikzf1 mutant progeny confirmed our piggyback hybrid knockdown results. Taken together, these studies shed light on understanding the role and the regulatory effects of zebrafish microRNA on thrombopoiesis and identified novel downstream target transcription factors for let-7b and mir-223.

Hematopoiesis is the process of proliferation, differentiation and self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells. Regulation of hematopoiesis is a complex process, which takes place on many different levels and is directed by many signals. RNF207 is one of the perspective genes chosen based on a screen in chicken model, where obtained data show its role in hematopoiesis. The aim of this work was to confirm the role of rnf207b as a new regulator of hematopoiesis in Danio rerio and to find out on which level of hematopoiesis is active. Danio rerio is an excellent model to study the function of genes in vivo, thanks to the easy manipulation of genetic expression and wide range of phenotypes during the development. To study the effect of rnf207b in hematopoiesis of Danio rerio we performed the knock-down of this gene by microinjection of morpholino oligonucleotides into one cell stage embryos. In these injected fish, we saw the effect in both thrombocyte and erythroid lineage, suggesting that rnf207b could be a regulator at the hierarchical level of progenitors or even more upstream. The results of developmental and tissue specific expression analysis then show that expression of rnf207b begins as early as 18 hpf, at the time of primitive hematopoiesis. Although rnf207b is expressed in the kidney (an...

Investigation of tumor growth has traditionally been studied focusing only on the cancer cells. However, tumors consist of a complex tissue organization where heterotypic signaling occurs between different cell types. The cross-talk between tumor cells and other surrounding cell types may ultimately prove to be as important for the tumor cell behavior as the internal signaling cascades in the tumor cell itself.Myeloid cells, such as granulocytes and monocytes, and thrombocytes play an important role in the tumor tissue, as a tumor can be compared to a wound healing process without the normal regulation mechanisms. Platelets are thought to facilitate tumor cell extravasation by binding to the tumor cell and recruiting myeloid cells that secrete factors aiding tumor migration through the endothelial cells. Studying the content of granules and vesicles of the platelets and myeloid cells can provide important knowledge about how the tumor interactions are mediated and which key proteins that controls these processes.Serglycin is an intracellular proteoglycan that attaches chains of negatively charged glycosaminoglycans. It is thought to have a function in retaining and storing proteins in hematipoietic cells. In this project the impact of the loss of serglycin on platelets and myeloid cells was investigated, using a spontaneous insulinoma serglycin knockout mouse model. The results suggests that serglycin does not affect the amount of neutrophil granulocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood, nor does it seem to affect the amount of platelets sequestered to the tumor tissue. A co-staining for platelets and MMP9 positive granulocytes was also performed in order to assess if granulocyte-platelet interactions in the tumor were affected by loss of serglycin. Interactions between these cells were observed in both genotypes. Von Willebrand factor levels in the tumor tissue also remained unchanged upon loss of serglycin. However, preliminary experiments indicated that serglycin seems to play a role in the intracellular amounts of vimentin and VEGFB in undifferentiated primary bone marrow derived monocytes.

To find out if the haematopoietic system is common feature of vertebrates, we decided to examine haematopoiesis in a sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). All blood cells arises from the haematopoietic stem cells in higher vertebrates. We assume that this is common for the higher vertebrates and a jawless vertebrates, but nobody was interested in the jawless haematopoiesis since 1970. Using a reverse genetic, we identify homologues of important hematopoietic of higher vertebrates in transcriptome of the sea lamprey with emphasis on important receptors or transcription factors, because they can be used as the specific markers of different blood cells and their progenitors. Then we use those sequences for cloning, expression measurements and other work. We picked up sea lamprey as model organism because its unique phylogenetic position, important foe evo-devo studies, but also because lack of elementary knowledge about sea lamprey haematopoiesis. Key words: Petromyzon marinus, haematopoiesis, HSC, evo-devo