Articles

Genetic deletion of P-selectin prevents fibrosis development by inhibiting the neutrophil megakaryocyte emperipolesis in the Gata1low mouse model for myelofibrosis

Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Published: 16 December 2025
144
Views
82
Downloads

Authors

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare chronic hematological disorder, within the family of myeloproliferative neoplasms. The MF patients present clinical abnormalities such as anemia, and thrombosis, as well as alterations in the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment, an increased number of megakaryocytes (MKs), most of which are found in emperipolesis with neutrophils. In MF, the MKs emperipolesis is induced by an altered MK secretome, containing increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, proteins, and growth factors such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and P-selectin (P-sel). These, allow the altered cell-to-cell interactions and cause the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) to be released into the BM microenvironment. This fibrogenic cytokine contributes to BM fibrosis and disease progression. Emperipolesis has already been identified as a pathobiological event that contributes to MF and it is widely recognized in the most advanced stages of the disease. In this study, we evaluated the role of P-sel in BM alterations associated with emperipolesis in the Gata1low mouse model of MF. Our data show that emperipolesis is driven by P-sel. Genetic ablation of P-sel rescued the BM microenvironment, by decreasing fibrosis, suggesting that pharmacological targeting of P-sel could contribute to reduce the BM dysfunction and disease progression. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Citations

1. Melo-Cardenas J, Migliaccio AR, Crispino JD. The role of megakaryocytes in myelofibrosis. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2021;35:191-203.
2. Vannucchi AM, Pancrazzi A, Guglielmelli P, Di Lollo S, Bogani C, Baroni G, et al. Abnormalities of GATA-1 in megakaryocytes from patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis. Am J Pathol 2005;167:849-58.
3. Martelli F, Ghinassi B, Panetta B, Alfani E, Gatta V, Pancrazzi A, et al. Variegation of the phenotype induced by the Gata1low mutation in mice of different genetic backgrounds. Blood 2005;106:4102-13.
4. Gilles L, Arslan AD, Marinaccio C, Wen QJ, Arya P, McNulty M, et al. Downregulation of GATA1 drives impaired hematopoiesis in primary myelofibrosis. J Clin Invest 2017;127:1316-20.
5. Rumi E, Cazzola M. Diagnosis, risk stratification, and response evaluation in classical myeloproliferative neoplasms. Blood 2017;129:680-92.
6. Ravid K, Karagianni A. Myeloproliferative disorders and its effect on bone homeostasis: the role of megakaryocytes. Blood 2021;139:3137.
7. de Sauvage FJ, Hass PE, Spencer SD, Malloy BE, Gurney AL, Spencer SA, et al. Stimulation of megakaryocytopoiesis and thrombopoiesis by the c-Mpl ligand. Nature 1994;369:533-8.
8. Tiedt R, Coers J, Ziegler S, Wiestner A, Hao-Shen H, Bornmann C, et al. Pronounced thrombocytosis in transgenic mice expressing reduced levels of Mpl in platelets and terminally differentiated megakaryocytes. Blood 2009;113:1768-77.
9. Woods B, Chen W, Chiu S, Marinaccio C, Fu C, Gu L, et al. Activation of JAK/STAT signaling in megakaryocytes sustains myeloproliferation in vivo. Clin Cancer Res 2019;25:5901-12.
10. Ciurea SO, Merchant D, Mahmud N, Ishii T, Zhao Y, Hu W, et al. Pivotal contributions of megakaryocytes to the biology of idiopathic myelofibrosis. Blood 2007;110:986-93.
11. Malara A, Abbonante V, Zingariello M, Migliaccio A, Balduini A. Megakaryocyte contribution to bone marrow fibrosis: many arrows in the quiver. Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2018;10:e2018068.
12. Wynn TA. Fibrotic disease and the TH1/TH2 paradigm. Nat Rev Immunol 2004;4:583-94.
13. Zingariello M, Verachi P, Gobbo F, Martelli F, Falchi M, Mazzarini M, et al. Resident self-tissue of proinflammatory cytokines rather than their systemic levels correlates with development of myelofibrosis in Gata1low mice. Biomolecules 2022;12:234.
14. Dunbar A, Kim D, Lu M, Farina M, Bowman RL, Yang JL, et al. CXCL8/CXCR2 signaling mediates bone marrow fibrosis and represents a therapeutic target in myelofibrosis. Blood 2023;141:2508-19.
15. Waugh DJJ, Wilson C. The interleukin-8 pathway in cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2008;14:6735-41.
16. Malara A, Currao M, Gruppi C, Celesti G, Viarengo G, Buracchi C, et al. Megakaryocytes contribute to the bone marrow-matrix environment by expressing fibronectin, type IV collagen, and laminin. Stem Cells 2014;32:926-37.
17. Cominal JG, da Costa Cacemiro M, Berzoti-Coelho MG, Pereira IEG, Frantz FG, Souto EX, et al. Bone marrow soluble mediator signatures of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms. Front Oncol 2021;11:665037.
18. Schmitt A, Jouault H, Guichard J, Wendling F, Drouin A, Cramer EM. Pathologic interaction between megakaryocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in myelofibrosis. Blood 2000;96:1342-7.
19. Petzold T, Zhang Z, Ballesteros I, Saleh I, Polzin A, Thienel M, et al. Neutrophil “plucking” on megakaryocytes drives platelet production and boosts cardiovascular disease. Immunity 2022;55:2285-99.
20. Centurione L, Di Baldassarre A, Zingariello M, Bosco D, Gatta V, Rana RA, et al. Increased and pathologic emperipolesis of neutrophils within megakaryocytes associated with marrow fibrosis in GATA-1low mice. Blood 2004;104:3573-80.
21. Hartwell DW, Mayadas TN, Berger G, Frenette PS, Rayburn H, Hynes RO, et al. Role of P-selectin cytoplasmic domain in granular targeting in vivo and in early inflammatory responses. J Cell Bio. 1998;143:1129-41.
22. André P. P‐selectin in haemostasis. Br J Haematol 2004;126:298-306.
23. Zetterberg E, Verrucci M, Martelli F, Zingariello M, Sancillo L, D’Amore E, et al. Abnormal P-selectin localization during megakaryocyte development determines thrombosis in the gata1low model of myelofibrosis. Platelets 2014;25:539-47.
24. Huang FY, Cunin P, Radtke FA, Darbousset R, Grieshaber-Bouyer R, Nigrovic PA. Neutrophil transit time and localization within the megakaryocyte define morphologically distinct forms of emperipolesis. Blood Adv 2022;6:2081-91.
25. Cunin P, Nigrovic PA. Megakaryocyte emperipolesis: a new frontier in cell-in-cell interaction. Platelets 2020;31:700-6.
26. Nazha A, Khoury JD, Rampal RK, Daver N. Fibrogenesis in primary myelofibrosis: diagnostic, clinical, and therapeutic implications. Oncologist 2015;20:1154-60.
27. Cunin P, Bouslama R, Machlus KR, Martínez-Bonet M, Lee PY, Wactor A, et al. Megakaryocyte emperipolesis mediates membrane transfer from intracytoplasmic neutrophils to platelets. Elife 2019;8:e44031.
28. Collinson RJ, Wilson L, Boey D, Ng ZY, Mirzai B, Chuah HS, et al. Transcription factor 3 is dysregulated in megakaryocytes in myelofibrosis. Platelets 2024;35:2304173.
29. Vannucchi AM, Bianchi L, Cellai C, Paoletti F, Rana RA, Lorenzini R, et al. Development of myelofibrosis in mice genetically impaired for GATA-1 expression (GATA-1(low) mice). Blood 2002;100:1123-32.
30. Frenette PS, Denis C V., Weiss L, Jurk K, Subbarao S, Kehrel B, et al. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (Psgl-1) is expressed on platelets and can mediate platelet-endothelial interactions in vivo. J Exp Med 2000;19:1413-22.
31. Spangrude GJ, Lewandowski D, Martelli F, Marra M, Zingariello M, Sancillo L, et al. P-selectin sustains extramedullary hematopoiesis in the Gata1low model of myelofibrosis. Stem Cells 2016;34:67-82.
32. Migliaccio AR, Centurione L, Di Baldassarre A, Zingariello M, Bosco D, Gatta V, et al. Increased and pathological emperipolesis of neutrophils within megakaryocytes associated with myelofibrosis in GATA-1low mice. Blood 2004;104:2430.
33. Zingariello M, Ruggeri A, Martelli F, Marra M, Sancillo L, Ceglia I, et al. A novel interaction between megakaryocytes and activated fibrocytes increases TGF-β bioavailability in the Gata1(low) mouse model of myelofibrosis. Am J Blood Res 2015;5:34-61.
34. Gilles L, Finke C, Lasho TL, Pardanani A, Tefferi A, Crispino J. Aberrant megakaryocyte gene expression contributes to primary myelofibrosis. Blood 2012;120:2867.
35. Varricchio L, Hoffman R. Megakaryocytes Are Regulators of the tumor microenvironment and malignant hematopoietic progenitor cells in myelofibrosis. Front Oncol 2022;12:906698.
36. Fiorentino V, Tralongo P, Martini M, Betti S, Rossi E, Pierconti F, et al. A novel morphological parameter predicting fibrotic evolution in myeloproliferative neoplasms: new evidence and molecular insights. Int J Mol Sci 2022;23:7872.
37. Zingariello M, Martelli F, Ciaffoni F, Masiello F, Ghinassi B, D’Amore E, et al. Characterization of the TGF-beta1 signaling abnormalities in the Gata1low mouse model of myelofibrosis. Blood 2013;121:3345-63.
38. Arciprete F, Verachi P, Martelli F, Valeri M, Balliu M, Guglielmelli P, et al. Inhibition of CXCR1/2 reduces the emperipolesis between neutrophils and megakaryocytes in the Gata1low model of myelofibrosis. Exp Hematol 2023;121:30-7.
39. Verachi P, Gobbo F, Martelli F, Martinelli A, Sarli G, Dunbar A, et al. The CXCR1/CXCR2 inhibitor reparixin alters the development of myelofibrosis in the Gata1 (low) mice. Front Oncol 2022;12:853484.
40. Zahr AA, Salama ME, Carreau N, Tremblay D, Verstovsek S, Mesa R, et al. Bone marrow fibrosis in myelofibrosis: pathogenesis, prognosis and targeted strategies. Haematologica 2016;101:660-71.
41. Ramanathan G, Fleischman AG. The microenvironment in myeloproliferative neoplasms. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2021;35:205-16.
42. Vermeersch G, Proost P, Struyf S, Gouwy M, Devos T. CXCL8 and its cognate receptors CXCR1/CXCR2 in primary myelofibrosis. Haematologica 2024; 109:2060-72.
43. Furie B, Furie B, Flaumenhaft R. A journey with platelet P-selectin: the molecular basis of granule secretion, signalling and cell adhesion. Thromb Haemost 2001;86:214-21.
44. McEver RP. Selectins: initiators of leucocyte adhesion and signalling at the vascular wall. Cardiovasc Res 2015;107:331-9.
45. Théorêt JF, Yacoub D, Hachem A, Gillis MA, Merhi Y. P-selectin ligation induces platelet activation and enhances microaggregate and thrombus formation. Thromb Res 2011;128:243-50.
46. Kappelmayer J, Nagy B. The interaction of selectins and PSGL-1 as a key component in thrombus formation and cancer progression. Biomed Res Int 2017;2017:6138145.
47. Tefferi A. Primary myelofibrosis: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification and management. Am J Hematol 2021;96:145-62.
48. Abbonante V, Di Buduo CA, Gruppi C, Malara A, Gianelli U, Celesti G, et al. Thrombopoietin/TGF-β1 loop regulates megakaryocyte extracellular matrix component synthesis. Stem Cells 2016;34:1123-33.
49. Teijeira A, Garasa S, Ochoa M del C, Cirella A, Olivera I, Glez‐Vaz J, et al. Differential Interleukin‐8 thresholds for chemotaxis and netosis in human neutrophils. Eur J Immunol 2021;51:2274-80.
50. Marin Oyarzún CP, Carestia A, Lev PR, Glembotsky AC, Castro Ríos MA, Moiraghi B, et al. Neutrophil extracellular trap formation and circulating nucleosomes in patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms. Sci Rep 2016;6:38738.
51. Rajarathnam K, Schnoor M, Richardson RM, Rajagopal S. How do chemokines navigate neutrophils to the target site: Dissecting the structural mechanisms and signaling pathways. Cell Signal 2019;54:69-80.
52. Gobbo F, Martelli F, Di Virgilio A, Demaria E, Sarli G, Migliaccio AR. The variation in the traits ameliorated by inhibitors of JAK1/2, TGF-β, P-selectin, and CXCR1/CXCR2 in the Gata1low model suggests that myelofibrosis should be treated by these drugs in combination. Int J Mol Sci 2024;25:7703.
53. Verachi P, Gobbo F, Martelli F, Martinelli A, Sarli G, Dunbar A, et al. The CXCR1/CXCR2 inhibitor reparixin alters the development of myelofibrosis in the Gata1low mice. Front Oncol 2022;12:853484.
54. Gobbo F, Zingariello M, Verachi P, Falchi M, Arciprete F, Martelli F, et al. GATA1-defective immune-megakaryocytes as possible drivers of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. bioRxiv [Preprint] 2023;19:2023.06.20.542249.
55. Lu M, Xia L, Liu YC, Hochman T, Bizzari L, Aruch D, et al. Lipocalin produced by myelofibrosis cells affects the fate of both hematopoietic and marrow microenvironmental cells. Blood 2015;126:972-82.
56. Kagoya Y, Yoshimi A, Tsuruta-Kishino T, Arai S, Satoh T, Akira S, et al. JAK2V617F+ myeloproliferative neoplasm clones evoke paracrine DNA damage to adjacent normal cells through secretion of lipocalin-2. Blood 2014;124:2996-3006.
57. Allegra A, Alonci A, Bellomo G, Campo S, Cannavò A, Penna G, et al. Increased serum levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in patients with essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera. Leuk Lymphoma 2011;52:101-7.
58. Khatib-Massalha E, Di Buduo CA, Chédeville AL, Ho YH, Zhu Y, Grockowiak E, et al. Defective neutrophil clearance in JAK2 V617F myeloproliferative neoplasms drives myelofibrosis via immune checkpoint CD24. Blood 2025;146:717-31.
59. Verachi P, Gobbo F, Martelli F, Falchi M, di Virgilio A, Sarli G, et al. Preclinical studies on the use of a P-selectin-blocking monoclonal antibody to halt progression of myelofibrosis in the Gata1 mouse model. Exp Hematol 2022;117:43-61.
60. Emadi S, Clay D, Desterke C, Guerton B, Maquarre E, Charpentier A, et al. IL-8 and its CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors participate in the control of megakaryocytic proliferation, differentiation, and ploidy in myeloid metaplasia with myelofibrosis. Blood 2005;105:464-73.

Supporting Agencies

this study was supported by grants from the PRIN2022

How to Cite



1.
Arciprete F, Velardi V, Di Virgilio A, Verachi P, Carta C, Pozzi G, et al. Genetic deletion of P-selectin prevents fibrosis development by inhibiting the neutrophil megakaryocyte emperipolesis in the Gata1low mouse model for myelofibrosis. Eur J Histochem [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 16 [cited 2025 Dec. 26];69(4). Available from: https://www.ejh.it/ejh/article/view/4427

Share