Ploidy could be the key to understanding megakaryocyte (MK) biology and platelet production. Human CD34 ؉ cells purified from umbilical cord blood (CB) and peripheral blood (PB) were investigated on their capability to give rise, in a serumfree medium containing thrombopoietin, to MKs and platelets. CB-MKs showed reduced polyploidization and platelet number compared with PB-MKs, but a similar membrane phenotype. Most CBMKs showed a 2N content of DNA (ϳ80%) and only 2.6% had 8N, whereas 40% of the PB cells had 8N or more. Platelets were substantially released in PB culture from day 12; at day 14 the CB-derived MKs were able to release platelets although at a reduced level (ϳ35%), correlating with their reduced size. A direct correlation was demonstrated by sorting polyploid cells from PB-MKs and evaluating the platelets released in the supernatant. Furthermore, the study analyzed the expression and distribution of cyclin D3 and cyclin B1. Cyclin D3 protein was increased in PB in comparison to CB-MKs; in PB culture most cells rapidly became positive, whereas in CB-derived cells cyclin D3 expression was evident only from day 9 and in a reduced percentage. Cyclin B1 was essentially localized at the nuclear level in the CB and was expressed during the whole culture. In PB-MKs, at day 9, a reduction was observed, correlating with an advanced ploidy state. The data indicate the inability of the CB-MKs to progress in the endomitotic process and a direct correlation between DNA content and platelet production. IntroductionThe main feature of megakaryocyte (MK) maturation is the development of a single, large, lobulated, polyploid nucleus; the mature MKs cease to proliferate but continue to increase their DNA content without undergoing late stages of mitosis. [1][2][3][4] Increase in megakaryocytic ploidy is associated with increase in megakaryocytic volume; the large size and abundant cytoplasm allow MKs to produce several thousand platelets per cell. 3 It was presumed that higher-ploidy cells could produce more platelets than lower-ploidy cells or that production and release is more efficient from a single large cell than from several smaller ones, but none of these suppositions has been proven. 5 Peripheral blood (PB)-mobilized CD34 ϩ cells induced to differentiate into megakaryocytic lineage gave rise to 3-fold augmentation of platelets compared with bone marrow (BM) CD34 ϩ cells, although the proportion of proplateletdisplaying MKs were similar. 6 Choi et al 7 reported the functionality of the platelets released in vitro from CD34 ϩ cells derived from PB stimulated to form MKs.The generation of large numbers of megakaryocytes became possible by the identification and cloning of thrombopoietin (TPO), the key regulatory cytokine of megakaryocytopoiesis. [8][9][10][11] Then several culture systems have been developed permitting all stages of megakaryocytopoiesis until platelet formation. 6,[12][13][14][15] TPO was shown to induce endomitosis and consequently to increase the polyploidy state of MKs in a significant meas...

The pH-dependent exposure of hydrophobic domains of Sap C and D paralleled their pH-dependent binding to large unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, and cholesterol. In contrast, the binding of Sap A to the vesicles was very restricted, in spite of its increased hydrophobicity at low pH. A low affinity for the vesicles was also shown by Sap B, a finding consistent with its apparent hydrophilicity both at neutral and acidic pH.At the acidic pH values needed for binding, Sap C and D powerfully destabilized the phospholipid membranes, while Sap A and B minimally affected the bilayer integrity. In the absence of the acidic phospholipid phosphatidylserine, the induced destabilization markedly decreased.Of the four saposins, only Sap C was able to promote the binding of glucosylceramidase to phosphatidylserine-containing membranes. This result is consistent with the notion that Sap C is specifically required by glucosylceramidase to exert its activity. Our finding that an acidic environment induces an increased hydrophobicity in Sap A, C, and D, making the last two saposins able to interact and perturb phospholipid membranes, suggests that this mechanism might be relevant to the mode of action of saposins in lysosomes.

The quality of colonoscopy was affected by patient-related, endoscopist-related and centre-related characteristics. Policies addressing organisational issues should improve the quality of colonoscopy in our programme and similar programmes.

The function of saposin C (Sap C), a glucosylceramidase activator protein, in the enzyme stimulation by phosphatidylserine (PS) liposomes has been investigated. Using gel filtration experiments evidence was obtained for Sap C binding to PS large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) but not to glucosylceramidase. PS LUV, which by themselves are unable to tightly bind and stimulate the enzyme, acquire the capacity to also bind the enzyme after interaction with Sap C, making it express its full activity. Our results indicate that the primary step in the Sap C mode of action resides in its association with PS membranes; in turn, this association promotes the interaction between the membranes and glucosylceramidase.

The low prevalence of SSPs and the lack of association with the FIT round argue against SSP as a suitable target for FIT-based organised programmes. Strict association of SSP-DR with the key colonoscopy quality indicators, namely caecal intubation rate and high ADR further marginalises the need for SSP-specific quality indicators in FIT-based programmes.