Premium
Platelets and autoimmunity
Author(s) -
Habets Kim L. L.,
Huizinga Tom W. J.,
Toes René E. M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/eci.12101
Subject(s) - platelet , immunology , platelet activation , inflammation , medicine , multiple sclerosis , autoimmunity , thrombosis , chemokine , experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis , immune system
Vascular injury is the initial manifestation of inflammation resulting in the recruitment and activation of various cell types. The integrity of the vascular wall is monitored by platelets that become activated in the presence of exposed subendothelium. Besides their well‐established role in haemostasis, ample data are now emerging on the many immunoregulatory functions of platelets. Platelets store and release a large plethora of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. They also represent the largest circulating pool of many inflammatory mediators like P‐selectin, CD 40L and non‐neuronal serotonin. Furthermore, complement activation occurs on the platelet surface and deposition of complement results in platelet activation. Overall, platelets have multiple functions in both innate and adaptive immunity. Further insight into the multifaceted role of platelets could therefore provide important clues into how we could implement current platelet therapy to reduce both platelet‐induced thrombosis and inflammation. In this review, we discuss the current perceptions of platelet involvement in various autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and multiple sclerosis.