Platelet Extracellular Vesicles: Beyond the Blood.

Platelet Extracellular Vesicles: Beyond the Blood. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2020 Oct 08;:ATVBAHA120314644 Authors: Puhm F, Boilard E, Machlus KR Abstract Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a means of cell-to-cell communication and can facilitate the exchange of a broad array of molecules between adjacent or distant cells. Platelets are anucleate cells derived from megakaryocytes and are primarily known for their role in maintaining hemostasis and vascular integrity. Upon activation by a variety of agonists, platelets readily generate EVs, which were initially identified as procoagulant particles. However, as both platelets and their EVs are abundant in blood, the role of platelet EVs in hemostasis may be redundant. Moreover, findings have challenged the significance of platelet-derived EVs in coagulation. Looking beyond hemostasis, platelet EV cargo is incredibly diverse and can include lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and organelles involved in numerous other biological processes. Furthermore, while platelets cannot cross tissue barriers, their EVs can enter lymph, bone marrow, and synovial fluid. This allows for the transfer of platelet-derived content to cellular recipients and organs inaccessible to platelets. This review highlights the importance of platelet-derived EVs in physiological and pathological conditions beyond hemostasis. PMID: 33028092 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol Source Type: research