Platelets in Neurodegenerative Conditions-Friend or Foe?

Abstract

It is now apparent that platelet function is more diverse than originally thought, shifting the view of platelets from blood cells involved in hemostasis and wound healing to major contributors to numerous regulatory processes across different tissues. Given their intriguing ability to store, produce and release distinct subsets of bioactive molecules, including intercellular signaling molecules and neurotransmitters, platelets may play an important role in orchestrating healthy brain function. Conversely, a number of neurodegenerative conditions have recently been associated with platelet dysfunction, further highlighting the tissue-independent role of these cells. In this review we summarize the requirements for platelet-neural cell communication with a focus on neurodegenerative diseases, and discuss the therapeutic potential of healthy platelets and the proteins which they release to counteract these conditions.

Keywords: brain function; neurodegeneration; neuroimmune crosstalk; neuroinflammation; platelets.

Figure 1

Platelet dysfunction is associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. Platelets are complex cells that exert numerous regulatory functions under physiological conditions, ranging from their traditional roles in hemostasis and wound healing to fundamental contributions to immune and tissue remodeling processes and brain homeostasis (left side). Platelet dysfunction, including mitochondrial abnormalities, is a common observation during neurodegeneration. The right side of this figure summarizes additional platelet-related impairments that link these cells to several neurodegenerative conditions. mHtt, mutant huntingtin protein; TDP-43, TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa.