Food-entrained rhythmic expression of PER2 and BMAL1 in murine megakaryocytes does not correlate with circadian rhythms in megakaryopoiesis

Background: Circadian rhythms control a vast array of biological processes in a broad spectrum of organisms. The contribution of circadian rhythms to the development of megakaryocytes and the regulation of platelet biology has not been defined.

Objectives: This study tested the hypothesis that murine megakaryocytes exhibit hallmarks of circadian control.

Methods: Mice expressing a PER2::LUCIFERASE circadian reporter protein and C57BI/6 mice were used to establish if megakaryocytes expressed circadian genes in vitro and in vivo. Mice were also subjected to 3 weeks on a restricted feeding regime to separate food-entrained from light-entrained circadian rhythms. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), flow cytometry and imunohistochemistry were employed to analyse gene expression, DNA content and cell-cycle behavior in megakaryocytes collected from mice over a 24-h period.

Results: Megakaryocytes exhibited rhythmic expression of the clock genes mPer2 and mBmal1 and circadian rhythms in megakaryopoiesis. mPer2 and mBmal1 expression phase advanced 8 h to coincide with the availability of food; however, food availability had a more complex effect on megakaryopoiesis, leading to a significant overall increase in megakaryocyte ploidy levels and cell-cycle activity.

Conclusions: Normal megakaryopoiesis requires synchrony between food- and light-entrained circadian oscillators.