Rab27b regulates number and secretion of platelet dense granules

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Apr 3;104(14):5872-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0609879104. Epub 2007 Mar 23.

Abstract

The Rab27 GTPase subfamily consists of two closely related homologs, Rab27a and Rab27b. Rab27a has been shown previously to regulate organelle movement and regulated exocytosis in a wide variety of secretory cells. However, the role of the more restrictedly expressed Rab27b remains unclear. Here we describe the creation of Rab27b knockout (KO) strain that was subsequently crossed with the naturally occurring Rab27a KO line, ashen, to produce double KO (Rab27a(ash/ash) Rab27b(-/-)) mice. Rab27b KO (and double KO) exhibit significant hemorrhagic disease in contrast to ashen mice. In vitro assays demonstrated impaired aggregation with collagen and U46619 and reduced secretion of dense granules in both Rab27b and double KO strains. Additionally, we detected a 50% reduction in the number of dense granules per platelet and diminished platelet serotonin content, possibly due to a dense granule packaging defect into proplatelets during megakaryocyte maturation. The presence of Rab27a partially compensated for the secretory defect but not the reduced granule number. The morphology and function of platelet alpha-granules were unaffected. Our data suggest that Rab27b is a key regulator of dense granule secretion in platelets and thus a candidate gene for delta-storage pool deficiency in humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Platelets / chemistry
  • Blood Platelets / ultrastructure*
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / chemistry
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / drug effects
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / ultrastructure*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • P-Selectin / analysis
  • Platelet Aggregation / genetics
  • Platelet Aggregation / physiology
  • Platelet Count
  • Serotonin / analysis
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / pharmacology
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology*

Substances

  • P-Selectin
  • Serotonin
  • Rab27b protein, mouse
  • rab GTP-Binding Proteins