%0 Journal Article
%T Zebrafish Thrombocytes: Functions and Origins
%A Gauri Khandekar
%A Seongcheol Kim
%A Pudur Jagadeeswaran
%J Advances in Hematology
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/857058
%X Platelets play an important role in mammalian hemostasis. Thrombocytes of early vertebrates are functionally equivalent to mammalian platelets. A substantial amount of research has been done to study platelet function in humans as well as in animal models. However, to date only limited functional genomic studies of platelets have been performed but are low throughput and are not cost-effective. Keeping this in mind we introduced zebrafish, a vertebrate genetic model to study platelet function. We characterized zebrafish thrombocytes and established functional assays study not only their hemostatic function but to also their production. We identified a few genes which play a role in their function and production. Since we introduced the zebrafish model for the study of hemostasis and thrombosis, other groups have adapted this model to study genes that are associated with thrombocyte function and a few novel genes have also been identified. Furthermore, transgenic zebrafish with GFP-tagged thrombocytes have been developed which helped to study the production of thrombocytes and their precursors as well as their functional roles not only in hemostasis but also hematopoiesis. This paper integrates the information available on zebrafish thrombocyte function and its formation. 1. Introduction Hemostasis is a defense mechanism to prevent loss of blood in the event of an injury in an organism that has a vasculature [1]. It consists of the platelet response to injury which results in platelet aggregation and plugging the wound, termed primary hemostasis, followed by the interplay of a complex cascade of coagulation factors on the platelet surface ultimately resulting in a fibrin clot, termed secondary hemostasis. After their primary hemostatic function platelets, also repair the damaged endothelium [2]. In primary hemostasis platelets adhere to collagen in the subendothelial matrix in response to injury and are subsequently activated by a complex signaling cascade resulting in secretion of their granular contents. These contents also result in the amplification of platelet aggregation at the site of injury and formation of a platelet plug which is stabilized further with help of fibrin [1]. This hemostatic plug prevents loss of blood from the site of injury. Thus, platelets that play a role in hemostasis and defects in platelet function have been shown to be involved in bleeding disorders as well as many pathophysiological conditions like thrombosis, inflammation, and even cancer [3]. Platelets have a number of receptors on their membrane surface that help
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ah/2012/857058/