A Review of the Action of Magnesium on Several Processes Involved in the Modulation of Hematopoiesis

Magnesium (Mg(2+)) is an essential mineral for the functioning and maintenance of the body. Disturbances in Mg(2+) intracellular homeostasis result in cell-membrane modification, an increase in oxidative stress, alteration in the proliferation mechanism, differentiation, and apoptosis. Mg(2+) deficiency often results in inflammation, with activation of inflammatory pathways and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines by immune cells. Immune cells and others that make up the blood system are from hematopoietic tissue in the bone marrow. The hematopoietic tissue is a tissue with high indices of renovation, and Mg(2+) has a pivotal role in the cell replication process, as well as DNA and RNA synthesis. However, the impact of the intra- and extracellular disturbance of Mg(2+) homeostasis on the hematopoietic tissue is little explored. This review deals specifically with the physiological requirements of Mg(2+) on hematopoiesis, showing various studies related to the physiological requirements and the effects of deficiency or excess of this mineral on the hematopoiesis regulation, as well as on the specific process of erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, lymphopoiesis, and thrombopoiesis. The literature selected includes studies in vitro, in animal models, and in humans, giving details about the impact that alterations of Mg(2+) homeostasis can have on hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic tissue.