Super-resolution microscopy in the diagnosis of platelet granule disorders

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Platelet granule deficiencies lead to bleeding disorders, but their specific diagnosis typically requires whole mount transmission electron microscopy, which is often not available and has a number of important limitations. We recently proposed the use of advanced forms of fluorescence microscopy – the so-called ‘super-resolution’ microscopies – as a possible solution.

Areas covered: In this special report, we review the diagnosis of platelet granule deficiencies, and discuss how recent developments in fluorescence microscopy may be useful in improving diagnostic approaches to these and related disorders. In particular, we conclude that super-resolution fluorescence microscopy may have advantages over transmission electron microscopy in this application.

Expert commentary: The value of the super-resolution microscopies has been amply demonstrated in research; however, their potential in diagnostic applications is ripe for further exploration. Hematology is a field particularly likely to benefit because of the relative simplicity of sample preparation. We anticipate that the costs of the necessary instrumentation will continue to fall rapidly, making these technologies widely accessible to clinicians.

KEYWORDS:

• Super-resolution microscopy
• structured illumination microscopy
• platelet disorders
• dense granules
• Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome

Declaration of interest

A Knight was supported by the BEIS (NMS/BIO16). D Cutler was supported by the MRC (MC-UU-12018/2). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

A Knight was supported by the BEIS (NMS/BIO16). D Cutler was supported by the MRC (MC-UU-12018/2).