INVOLVEMENT OF BONE MARROW MEGAKARYOCYTES IN THE FORMATION OF THE BONE MARROW-BLOOD BARRIER IN TRANSGENIC MICE

Mature cell release takes place through the hypothetical barrier -- the bone marrow-blood barrier. Megakaryocytes are involved in the release of platelets or other cellular components of blood. The amount and the development of megakaryocytes and thus the maturity of barrier depend on many factors. One of them is IL-6, which gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 7 (7p15-p21). The study was performed on wild-type mice (C57B4/6J) and on mice lacking the gene encoding IL-6 (IL-6 KO-C57B4/6J IL-6tm1 Kopf-/-). Bone marrow of all animals in both groups has been collected, fixed and stained. Megakaryocytes were identified in each microscopic specimen using immunohistochemical reaction with the CD61 antibody. Then, all specimens were subjected to histomorphometric analysis. Statistically significant differences in the total number and size of megakaryocytes were noted, which affects bone marrow-blood barrier functions. This could be used in the conventional treatment of cancer, respiratory diseases and coagulation disorders and in the treatment using nanoparticles.