Dissecting the Aging Megakaryocyte
Aging changes the bone marrow cells that make platelets, increasing inflammation and platelet activation, which raises the risk of clotting and heart disease. Using single-cell RNA sequencing in mice and humans, a recent study by Lee P et al found that specific megakaryocyte subpopulations linked to platelet activation and immune responses become more common with age. These age-related shifts differ by sex, with females showing more activation-related cells and males showing more inflammation-related cells. Platelets from older mice of both sexes were also more easily activated, confirming the cellular findings. Overall, the results reveal sex-specific molecular changes in aging that may guide the development of tailored antithrombotic therapies.
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Florian Wenzl