Turbulence orchestrates actin-mitochondria dynamics to preserve GPIbα and support iPSC-derived platelet biogenesis

Abstract

The in vitro manufacturing of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived platelets (iPSC-platelets) remains limited by low yield and poor quality, thus impeding practical clinical application. To address this, we developed a turbulence-assisted system using defined physical stimulation to enhance platelet production from immortalized megakaryocyte progenitor cell lines (imMKCLs). This approach significantly increases the yield of glycoprotein Ib (GPIb) functional iPSC-platelets. However, the underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Here, we reveal that GPIb iPSC-platelets retain high mitochondrial membrane potential, low phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure, and active ATP-dependent flippases, preserving mitochondrial integrity and platelet functionality. In contrast, GPIb- platelets exhibit PS exposure, ADAM17 activation, and selective GPIb shedding. Notably, turbulent flow induces late-stage actin depolymerization, promoting even mitochondrial distribution within maturing imMKCLs and enhancing mitochondrial inheritance to iPSC-platelets. These findings highlight the key role of turbulence in regulating actin dynamics and mitochondrial allocation during platelet biogenesis, providing a mechanistic foundation for improving in vitro platelet production for therapeutic use.