Platelet lipid metabolism in vascular thrombo-inflammation

Abstract

The function of platelets - and thereby the balance between thrombosis and hemostasis - critically depends on their lipid composition. At the same time, platelets are capable of interacting with inflammatory cells by releasing lipids in a paracrine manner. Over the years, many studies have emphasized the importance of both, membrane and signaling lipids, in the signaling pathways underlying arterial thrombosis and chronic inflammation. In line with this, an imbalance of platelet lipid homeostasis is associated with thrombo-inflammatory diseases such as acute coronary syndrome. By establishing quantitative platelet lipidomic analysis, an opportunity has arisen to deepen our knowledge about platelet lipids regulating thrombo-inflammation and vice versa. Past and future investigations in this upcoming field are of great clinical importance since they will presumably pave the way for the identification of novel biomarkers. In addition, targeting specific regulators of the platelet lipid metabolism is a promising strategy to receive both anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory therapeutics and could be beneficial to a wide variety of patients with vascular thrombo-inflammatory diseases. This review summarizes the latest scientific findings in the field of platelet lipidomics research and does so by focusing on the metabolism of sphingolipids, oxylipins and phosphoinositides, which are affected by dynamic modifications in a pathophysiological manner. Further, this review elucidates the impact of these platelet lipids on thrombo-inflammatory cardiovascular diseases and highlights potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Lipids; Platelets; Thrombo-inflammation.