BDNF, produced by a TPO-stimulated megakaryocytic cell line, regulates autocrine proliferation

While human platelets release endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) upon activation, a previous report on MEG-01, a megakaryocytic cell line, found no trace of BDNF production, and the pathophysiological function of platelet BDNF has remained elusive. In the present study, we demonstrate that MEG-01 produces BDNF in the presence of TPO and that this serves to potentiate cell proliferation. Our in vitro findings suggest that BDNF regulates MEG-01 proliferation in an autocrine manner, and we suggest that BDNF may be a physiological autocrine regulator of megakaryocyte progenitors.

► It has been thought that BDNF is not produced in the megakaryocytic lineage.
► MEG-01 produces BDNF upon TPO stimulation and regulates its proliferation.
► BDNF accelerates proliferation of MEG-01 in an autocrine manner.
► BDNF may be an autocrine MEG-CSF, which regulates megakaryopoiesis.