Title:The Role of Platelets in Cardiovascular Disease: Molecular Mechanisms
Volume: 22
Issue: 29
Author(s): Angeliki Papapanagiotou, Georgios Daskalakis, Gerasimos Siasos, Antonios Gargalionis and Athanasios G. Papavassiliou
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Platelets, infammation, chemokines, ADP, platelet microparticles, atherosclerosis.
Abstract: The role of platelets in atherosclerotic process and subsequently in the pathophysiology
of cardiovascular disease is essential as platelets in addition to their contribution
to thrombosis and hemostasis modulating inflammatory reactions and immune response.
Platelets after adhesion on the injured vascular endothelium and activation release a wide
range of molecules stored in platelets granules such as chemokines, proinflammatory molecules
and other biological response modulators accelerating interaction among platelets,
endothelial cells and leukocytes. These interactions establish a localized inflammatory response
that promotes the atherosclerotic process. Moreover, activated platelets give rise to
microparticles another active participant within the blood stream. The purpose of this review
is to present the role of platelets in the above mechanisms giving an emphasis on the nature
of the platelet derived- molecules and their contribution to the atherosclerotic process.
