Desialylated Platelets Are Cleared From the Circulation by the Hepatic Asialoglycoprotein Receptor,

Abstract 3257

The regulatory mechanisms of platelet homeostasis remain elusive. We investigated here the role of hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor (a.k.a. Ashwell-Morell receptor) in platelet clearance. Mice lacking the hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptor Asgpr2 subunit had increased platelet survivals (T1/2 = 49.5±2h) when compared to wild type (WT, T1/2 = 31±4h) mice. Consequently, Asgpr2^−/− mice had platelet counts increased by ∼20%, compared to WT, with increased terminal galactose exposure, as demonstrated using the galactose specific lectin RCA1. Bone marrow and spleen megakaryocyte numbers were reduced by ∼15% and ∼20% in Asgpr2^−/− mice, compared to WT mice. Sialidase (NA, Clostidium perfringens, 50mU/mice) maximally desialylated circulating platelets when injected intravenously, as evidenced by increased RCA1 binding. Sialidase injection resulted in a ∼60% depletion of circulating platelets after 24h in Asgpr2^−/− mice, compared to >90% in WT mice, indicating that desialylated platelets were partially removed by Asgpr1/2. In contrast to platelets, red blood cell counts were unaffected by sialidase treatment. Sialidase injection for 72h resulted in a 2.3-fold and 1.2-fold increase in megakaryocyte numbers in the spleen and bone marrow of WT mice, respectively, but not in Asgpr2^−/− mice. In contrast to sialidase treatment, injections of rabbit anti-mouse platelet serum (RAMPS) depleted >95% of circulating platelets and increased by 70% bone marrow, but not spleen MK numbers in both WT and Asgpr2^−/− mice. The data shows that removal of desialylated, i.e, senescent, platelets by the hepatic Ashwell-Morell receptor differs to that of antibody-mediated platelet clearance.