Li Yueying, Chen Kunying, Wang Qian-Fei
China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, 100101, China.
Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
Front Med. 2024 Dec;18(6):988-1001. doi: 10.1007/s11684-024-1087-1. Epub 2024 Nov 14.
Megakaryocytes (MKs), which are traditionally known for their role in platelet production, are now emerging as unique immune cells with diverse capabilities. They express immune receptors, participate in pathogen recognition and response, phagocytose pathogens, contribute to antigen presentation, and interact with various immune cell types. When encountering inflammatory challenges, MKs exhibit intricate immune functions that can either promote or inhibit inflammation. These responses are mediated through mechanisms, such as the secretion of either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory cytokines and release of immunomodulatory platelets according to specific conditions. This intricate array of responses necessitates a detailed exploration to determine whether the immune functions of MKs are carried out by the entire MK population or by a specific subpopulation. Breakthroughs in single-cell RNA sequencing have uncovered a unique "immune MK" subpopulation, revealing its distinct characteristics and immunoregulatory functions. This review provides latest insights into MKs' immune attributes and their roles in physiological and pathological contexts and emphasizes the discovery and functions of "immune MKs".
巨核细胞（MKs）传统上因在血小板生成中的作用而为人所知，现在正作为具有多种功能的独特免疫细胞崭露头角。它们表达免疫受体，参与病原体识别和应答，吞噬病原体，促进抗原呈递，并与各种免疫细胞类型相互作用。在遇到炎症挑战时，巨核细胞表现出复杂的免疫功能，既可以促进炎症，也可以抑制炎症。这些反应是通过诸如分泌抗炎或促炎细胞因子以及根据特定条件释放免疫调节性血小板等机制介导的。这种复杂的反应阵列需要进行详细的探索，以确定巨核细胞的免疫功能是由整个巨核细胞群体还是特定亚群执行的。单细胞RNA测序的突破揭示了一个独特的“免疫巨核细胞”亚群，揭示了其独特的特征和免疫调节功能。本综述提供了关于巨核细胞免疫特性及其在生理和病理背景中的作用的最新见解，并强调了“免疫巨核细胞”的发现和功能。
