Alentado, Vincent J.Moliterno, Alison R.Srour, Edward F.Kacena, Melissa A.2021-12-032021-12-032021-10Alentado, V. J., Moliterno, A. R., Srour, E. F., & Kacena, M. A. (2021). Clinical applications of thrombopoietin silencing: A possible therapeutic role in COVID-19? Cytokine, 146, 155634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2021.1556341043-4666https://hdl.handle.net/1805/27119This article is made available for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemicThrombopoietin (TPO) is most recognized for its function as the primary regulator of megakaryocyte (MK) expansion and differentiation. MKs, in turn, are best known for their role in platelet production. Research indicates that MKs and platelets play an extensive role in the pathologic thrombosis at sites of high inflammation. TPO, therefore, is a key mediator of thromboinflammation. Silencing of TPO has been shown to decrease platelets levels and rates of pathologic thrombosis in patients with various inflammatory disorders (Barrett et al, 2020; Bunting et al, 1997; Desai et al, 2018; Kaser et al, 2001; Shirai et al, 2019). Given the high rates of thromboinflammmation in the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), as well as the well-documented aberrant MK activity in affected patients, TPO silencing offers a potential therapeutic modality in the treatment of COVID-19 and other pathologies associated with thromboinflammation. The current review explores the current clinical applications of TPO silencing and offers insight into a potential role in the treatment of COVID-19.en-USPublic Health EmergencyCOVID-19Gene SilencingThromboinflammationThrombosisMegakaryocytesInflammationArticle