Inflammatory platelet production stimulated by tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase mimicking viral infection

Platelets play a role not only in hemostasis and thrombosis, but also in inflammation and innate immunity. We previously reported that an activated form of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YRS^ACT) has an extratranslational activity that enhances megakaryopoiesis and platelet production in mice. Here, we report that YRS^ACT mimics inflammatory stress inducing a unique megakaryocyte (MK) population with stem cell (Sca1) and myeloid (F4/80) markers through a mechanism dependent on Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation and type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling. This mimicry of inflammatory stress by YRS^ACT was studied in mice infected by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). Using Sca1/EGFP transgenic mice, we demonstrated that IFN-I induced by YRS^ACT or LCMV infection suppressed normal hematopoiesis while activating an alternative pathway of thrombopoiesis. Platelets of inflammatory origin (Sca1/EGFP⁺) were a relevant proportion of those circulating during recovery from thrombocytopenia. Analysis of these “inflammatory” MKs and platelets suggested their origin in myeloid/MK-biased hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that bypassed the classical MK-erythroid progenitor (MEP) pathway to replenish platelets and promote recovery from thrombocytopenia. Notably, inflammatory platelets displayed enhanced agonist-induced activation and procoagulant activities. Moreover, myeloid/MK-biased progenitors and MKs were mobilized from the bone marrow, as evidenced by their presence in the lung microvasculature within fibrin-containing microthrombi. Our results define the function of YRS^ACT in platelet generation and contribute to elucidate platelet alterations in number and function during viral infection.