Pathogenetic and clinical study of a patient with thrombocytopenia due to the p.E527K gain-of-function variant of SRC

The SRC gene was the first proto-oncogene to be discovered. Its product SRC is a nonreceptor protein tyrosine kinase that is the prototype, and a ubiquitously expressed member, of the SRC family kinases. SRC has been investigated for decades in mouse and in vitro models: these studies have indicated that SRC signalling has a central role in many cellular functions and in oncogenesis. 1 In platelets, SRC mediates signal activation pathways downstream different integrins and G protein-coupled receptors.2 However, much remains to be understood about SRC functions in human megakaryocytes and platelets. Recently, the first germline mutation in SRC causing human disease was reported in two families. Here we report the investigation of a new unrelated individual carrying the p.E527K variant that provides additional information on the clinical and pathogenetic features of the disorder and the role of SRC in human megakaryocytes.