N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor mediated calcium influx supports in vitro differentiation of normal mouse megakaryocytes but proliferation of leukemic cell lines.
Tania KamalTaryn N GreenJames I HearnEmma C JosefssonMarie-Christine Morel-KoppChristopher M WardMatthew J DuringMaggie L Kalev-ZylinskaPublished in: Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis (2017)
NMDAR-mediated calcium influx is required for normal megakaryocytic differentiation, in particular proplatelet formation. However, in leukemic cells, the main NMDAR role is to inhibit differentiation, suggesting diversion of NMDAR activity to support leukemia growth. Further elucidation of the NMDAR and calcium pathways in megakaryocytic cells may suggest novel ways to modulate abnormal megakaryopoiesis.