IMRB’s Relaix team publishes in the journal Cell Metabolism the discovery of a mitochondrial transfer mechanism from platelets activating the repair function of mesenchymal stem cells

Platelets are commonly used in clinical applications. In particular, they are known to stimulate the repair properties of mesenchymal stem cells, these effects being usually attributed to the many growth factors that they release following their activation.

The study headed by Anne-Marie Rodriguez with Jennyfer Levoux, Alexandre Prola and Peggy Lafuste as first co-authors reports a novel mechanism by which platelets improve the regenerative capacity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via metabolic remodeling.

The authors showed that activated platelets release respiratory-competent mitochondria to MSCs and that this process improves the MSC pro-angiogenic function through the elevation of the cytosolic citrate level and stimulation of fatty acid synthesis.

This work has been published in January 4th in Cell Metabolism as a collaboration between IMRB Teams Relaix and Jiri Neuzil’s team in Prague.