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Megakaryocyte development is normal in mice with targeted disruption of Tescalcin
Supamit Ukarapong1, Yong Bao, Erasmo M Perera
1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, 1601 NW 12th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA. sukarapong@yahoo.com
Background:
Tescalcin is an EF-hand calcium-binding protein that interacts with the Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1). Levay and Slepak recently proposed a role for tescalcin in megakaryopoiesis that was independent of NHE1 activity. Their studies using K562 and HEL cell lines, and human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells suggested an essential role for tescalcin in megakaryocyte differentiation.
Objective:
To study the role of tescalcin in megakaryocyte development using a murine model of megakaryopoiesis.
Methods:
We generated a mouse with targeted disruption of tescalcin and investigated megakaryocyte development.
Results:
Tescalcin-deficient mice had a normal number of megakaryocytes and platelets. The morphology, polyploidization profile, and expression of Fli-1 in bone marrow-derived megakaryocytes were also normal.
Conclusion:
Tescalcin does not appear to be necessary for normal megakaryocyte development.
