The Bcl-2 Protein Family Is Essential for Platelet Survival In Vivo.

Abstract

Abstract Platelets are small, anuclear cytoplasmic fragments that play an essential role in blood clotting and hemostasis. They are produced by megakaryocytes: large, polyploid cells that reside primarily in the bone marrow. Once shed into the blood stream, platelets are consumed either by their participation in hemostatic processes, or their eventual destruction by the reticulo-endothelial system. The latter occurs when platelets have reached the end of their lifespan, which is 9–10 days in human, 4–5 days in mice. Like the other lineages of blood cells, the steady state level of platelets reflects the balance between their production and destruction. Any imbalance can result..