Age- and sex-specific transcriptomic changes drive the prothrombotic potential of megakaryocytes.
As we age, our bodies experience many changes, and sometimes these changes can increase our risk for conditions like blood clots and heart disease. Scientists have been trying to understand why this happens, especially how the cells that produce platelets—tiny blood cells essential for clotting—change over time. These platelet-producing cells are called megakaryocytes, and they reside primarily in our bone marrow.
A recent study utilized advanced genetic sequencing techniques to examine megakaryocytes from both young and older individuals, as well as from mice. This allowed researchers to observe which genes were active, providing a “transcriptomic profile” of these cells.
The findings revealed that megakaryocytes undergo significant alterations with age, which can make them more likely to contribute to blood clot formation and inflammation. Interestingly, these changes were not the same for males and females. For example, older males showed increased activity in genes linked to cell energy production and stress, while older females had more active genes related to serotonin receptors.
This “sex-specific remodeling” means that the way megakaryocytes change as we get older is unique to biological males and females, leading to different tendencies towards blood clotting and inflammation. Understanding these distinct age- and sex-related genetic shifts in megakaryocytes is crucial. It could pave the way for developing new, personalized treatments for blood clot-related conditions, tailored to an individual’s age and sex.