Phospholipase D is a central regulator of collagen I-induced cytoskeletal rearrangement and podosome formation in megakaryocytes.

Background: Blood platelets are small anucleated cell fragments generated from bone marrow megakaryocytes (MKs) by a cytoskeleton-driven process. Thereby, mature MKs form long cytoplasmic protrusions (pro-platelets), which extend into the sinusoids within the bone marrow and finally release platelets. Podosomes are F-actin rich matrix contacts that have been suggested to play an important role in cell migration, but also in pro-platelet formation by MKs. Phospholipase D (PLD) has been proposed to contribute to the regulation of actin dynamics through the local generation of phosphatidic acid but its role in platelet formation is unknown.

Objective: We sought to investigate the significance of PLD in MK podosome formation and thrombocytopoiesis.

Methods: Podosome formation, spreading and ultra-structure of PLD single- and double-deficient MKs were analyzed using confocal and transmission electron microscopy.

Results: Phospholipase D-deficient MKs displayed a highly altered ultra-structure in vivo and abnormal actin rearrangement, with almost abolished formation of podosomes upon spreading on collagen I in vitro. However, MK endomitosis and platelet production were not altered by PLD deficiency.

Conclusions: Together, our findings point to a specific function of PLD in actin dynamics as well as podosome formation and size determination in MKs on a collagen I matrix. The normal platelet number in PLD-deficient mice, however, suggests the existence of compensatory mechanisms in vivo that overcome the defective podosome formation observed in vitro.