Abstract
Background: Megakaryocytes are classically identified by their cellular morphology and expression of platelet glycoproteins. Methods: In this study, the expression of GPIIIa (CD61) on hemepoietic cells was analyzed by dual-fluorescence flow cytometry. Results: All monocytic cells (CD14+) were shown to coexpress CD61. As the expression of platelet protein on these monocytic cells cannot be reduced by treating the cells with anticoagulant (ethlyenediaminetetraacetic acid [EDTA]), this observation is not simply due to platelet adhesion. When sorted CD61(lo)CD14+ cells were studied by light and electron microscopy, platelets or platelet fragments could not be detected on the cell surface. These cells were found to have typical monocytic morphology but no megakaryocytic characteristics. Conclusions: This finding demonstrates that without careful definition, the quantitation of megakaryocytic cells will be inappropriately high. A clear and unambiguous criteria for the identification of megakaryocytic cells is described based on the high expression of platelet glycoprotein (e.g., CD61(hi) or CD41(hi)) but not the monocyte marker (CD14(neg)). (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 308-315 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Cytometry |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2000 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- CD14
- CD61
- Flow cytometry
- Immunophenotyping
- Megakaryocytes
- Monocytic cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pathology and Forensic Medicine
- Biophysics
- Hematology
- Endocrinology
- Cell Biology