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Are thrombocytes and platelets true phagocytes?
Author(s) -
Meseguer José,
Esteban M. Ángeles,
Rodríguez Alejandro
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.10102
Subject(s) - platelet , hemostasis , bacteria , biology , function (biology) , in vivo , microbiology and biotechnology , inflammation , immunology , chemistry , medicine , genetics
Thrombocytes and platelets, beyond their primary function in hemostasis, seem to play an active role in inflammation. As regards their phagocytic ability, the results to date are confusing, incomplete, and somewhat contradictory. Whereas the interaction of avian thrombocytes or mammalian platelets with bacteria both in vitro and in vivo has received wide attention, almost no information exists on the topic in “lower” vertebrates. The aim of this work is to review the available information on the phagocytic properties of thrombocytes and platelets. Particular attention is payed to the ontogeny of these cells, the soluble factors involved in the inflammatory process derived from them, and their interaction with particulate material, mainly with bacteria. Microsc. Res. Tech. 57:491–497, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.