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Related Concept Videos

Characteristics and Functions of Blood01:26

Characteristics and Functions of Blood

Blood is specialized connective tissue comprising about 8% of the body mass. It has a thick, liquid extracellular matrix that contains cells, dissolved proteins, and electrolytes, making it five times more viscous than water. Blood is warm, around 38°C, and has an alkaline pH ranging from 7.35 to 7.45.
The primary function of blood is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide between tissues and the lungs. Oxygenated blood is bright red, while oxygen-depleted blood is darker. It also carries...
Composition of Blood01:22

Composition of Blood

The blood in our bodies comprises three major components: blood plasma, formed elements, and the extracellular matrix. Blood plasma is a yellowish fluid that constitutes 55% of the total blood volume. It is primarily made up of water and essential substances such as electrolytes and proteins. Blood plasma serves as a medium for transporting blood cells and also contains nutrients, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, and gases.
Formed elements constitute the remaining 45% of the blood volume. These...
Production of Formed Elements01:34

Production of Formed Elements

Hemangioblasts are multipotent stem cells originating from the mesoderm. They give rise to hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which undergo hematopoiesis to produce all the formed elements of blood. This process is regulated by a complex network of hematopoietic growth factors, including transcription factors, growth factors, and cytokines. These factors stimulate the HSCs to divide and differentiate, though some HSCs remain undifferentiated to maintain a self-renewing pool.
Most HSCs commit to...
Structure and Function of Erythrocytes01:29

Structure and Function of Erythrocytes

There are between 4.2 and 6 million erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, in every microliter of blood. These cells are small, flattened biconcave discs with centers that are depressed.
The erythrocyte plasma membrane is associated with proteins such as spectrin, which forms a flexible cytoplasmic meshwork. This meshwork allows erythrocytes to twist, turn, become cup-shaped, and regain their biconcave shape as they pass through narrow capillaries. Additionally, erythrocytes can form...
Structure and Function of Leukocytes01:21

Structure and Function of Leukocytes

An adult in good health typically has between 4,500 and 11,000 leukocytes, or white blood cells, per microliter of blood, which constitutes about 1% of the total blood volume. Unlike red blood cells, white blood cells contain a nucleus and other cellular organelles but do not have hemoglobin. Most white blood cells reside in connective tissues, particularly in lymphatic organs such as the lymph nodes, with only a small fraction present in circulating blood.
White blood cells protect the body...
Structure and Function of Platelets01:18

Structure and Function of Platelets

The cell fragments known as platelets are disc-shaped, with an average diameter of about 3 μm and a thickness of roughly 1 μm. They play a crucial role in the body's vascular clotting system, which also involves plasma proteins, blood cells, and blood vessel tissues.
Platelets are continually replenished, circulating in the bloodstream for 9-12 days before being removed by phagocytes, primarily in the spleen. A microliter of circulating blood contains between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets, with...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

LC-MS Analysis of Human Platelets as a Platform for Studying Mitochondrial Metabolism
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LC-MS Analysis of Human Platelets as a Platform for Studying Mitochondrial Metabolism

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Assessing mitochondrial function and protein composition in platelet-derived extracellular vesicles.

Vanessa Veilleux1,2,3, Nicolas Pichaud1,2, Gilles A Robichaud1,2,3

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Platelets
|January 5, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Platelets release microparticles (PMPs) containing mitochondria that transfer to cells, impacting metabolism and disease. This study optimized methods to study mitochondrial function in PMPs, revealing their distinct respiratory profiles and sensitivity to storage.

Keywords:
High-resolution respirometryOXPHOSmicroparticlesmitochondriaplateletsproteomics

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Last Updated: May 12, 2026

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Routine Screening Method for Microparticles in Platelet Transfusions
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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Mitochondrial Biology
  • Extracellular Vesicles

Background:

  • Platelets are known for hemostasis but also mediate inflammation, cancer, and communication via platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs).
  • A subset of PMPs, mitoMPs, contain functional mitochondria and can transfer to recipient cells, influencing their metabolism and biological functions.
  • Mitochondrial transfer via mitoMPs is implicated in pathological processes, potentially restoring metabolic function or promoting cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and optimize a protocol for assessing mitochondrial respiration in platelets and PMPs.
  • To characterize the distinct respiratory profiles of mitochondria within platelets versus PMPs.
  • To investigate the impact of storage conditions, such as freeze-thaw cycles, on PMP mitochondrial function.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a permeabilization protocol using saponin or digitonin for high-resolution respirometry.
  • Assessment of mitochondrial respiration in isolated platelets and PMPs.
  • Proteomic profiling of PMPs to identify associated molecular pathways and protein cargo.

Main Results:

  • Saponin proved more effective than digitonin for permeabilization in the context of platelet and PMP mitochondrial respiration analysis.
  • Distinct respiratory profiles were observed between mitochondria in platelets and PMPs.
  • Freeze-thaw cycles were found to significantly impair mitochondrial function in PMPs.
  • Proteomic analysis of PMPs revealed enrichment of proteins involved in mitochondrial metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • The study established a robust method for analyzing mitochondrial respiration in platelets and PMPs.
  • MitoMPs possess unique mitochondrial respiratory characteristics and are vulnerable to damage from freeze-thaw cycles.
  • These findings enhance understanding of PMP-mediated mitochondrial transfer, intercellular communication, and their role in disease pathogenesis.