How fatty acids change platelet production
Elucidation of the mechanisms by which fatty acids drive megakaryopoiesis
This project looks at whether certain fats taken up by platelet precursor cells change how many platelets people with bleeding or clotting problems make.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11353859 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will study how polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in cell membranes influence the development of megakaryocytes, the bone marrow cells that produce platelets. They will use human cells grown in the lab (including iPSC-derived organoids), mouse models, and modern lab tools like click chemistry, cellular barcoding, phospho-flow cytometry, and the FALCON fatty acid library to track fatty acid uptake and effects. A central question is whether the CD36 receptor brings PUFAs into megakaryocyte progenitors and which enzymes are required for PUFA accumulation. The goal is to find new molecular points to raise or lower platelet counts for people who do not respond to existing TPO/MPL-targeted therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with persistently low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) or unexplained high platelet counts would be the most likely future candidates for related clinical trials.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate standard-of-care interventions or whose platelet disorders are driven solely by unrelated genetic defects are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to increase or decrease platelet counts for people with bleeding or clotting disorders who do not respond to current treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Metabolic regulation of blood cells is an active area of research, but using PUFA uptake via CD36 to control megakaryopoiesis is a relatively new and largely preclinical approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Machlus, Kellie Rae — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Machlus, Kellie Rae
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.