Platelet function beyond hemostasis and thrombosis

Abstract

Purpose of review: The platelet paradigm that is well established in hemostasis and thrombosis can be extended to other disease states. A consideration for some major health issues, such as inflammation, cancer, infection, and neuroscience, and how platelet function impacts the pathophysiology of each clinical situation is provided.

Recent findings: Decades of research and knowledge of platelet function exist and the same is true for inflammation and cancer. The literature is full of platelet biology overlapping into other, nonthrombotic disease states. However, major gaps exist that prevent a complete mechanistic understanding of platelet function in these other diseases. Although much of the overlap provides antidotal relationships, future studies will likely uncover novel pathophysiological pathways that are highly relevant to human diseases.

Summary: Recent findings in four major disease areas, inflammation, cancer, infection, and neuroscience, are described, with current literature linking the disease to platelet function. The availability of antiplatelet therapies, such as aspirin, exists and future consideration can be given as to whether antiplatelet therapy is potentially beneficial or harmful as the mechanisms of platelet involvement are better defined.

Figure 1. Platelets at the interface of disease

The dynamics that exist between platelet function in hemostasis / thrombosis and diseases, such as cancer, inflammation, and neurological disorders are being explored. Traditional platelet function in hemostasis and thrombosis impacts each of these areas to varying degrees and some of the recent progress and insights are highlighted in this review. Further overlap between cancer / inflammation, and inflammation / neurological disorders is also known but beyond the scope of what is discussed here.