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Review
. 2019 Jul 16;20(14):3494.
doi: 10.3390/ijms20143494.

Platelets Are Critical Key Players in Sepsis

Fanny Vardon-Bounes  1   2 , Stéphanie Ruiz  3 , Marie-Pierre Gratacap  4 , Cédric Garcia  5 , Bernard Payrastre  4   5 , Vincent Minville  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Platelets Are Critical Key Players in Sepsis

Fanny Vardon-Bounes et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Host defense against infection is based on two crucial mechanisms: the inflammatory response and the activation of coagulation. Platelets are involved in both hemostasis and immune response. These mechanisms work together in a complex and synchronous manner making the contribution of platelets of major importance in sepsis. This is a summary of the pathophysiology of sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia, microvascular consequences, platelet-endothelial cells and platelet-pathogens interactions. The critical role of platelets during sepsis and the therapeutic implications are also reviewed.

Keywords: endothelium; immunothrombosis; platelets; sepsis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Selected examples of pro-inflammatory role of platelets during sepsis: endothelial damage and interactions with pathogens such as pathogens-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) activate platelets that interact with endothelium, with monocytes and neutrophils, promoting neutrophils extra-cellular Trap (NET)osis, neutrophils transmigration, activation of coagulation through tissue factor release and immunothrombosis. DAMPs: damage associated molecular patterns (microvesicles, free DNA, protease).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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