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Hamostaseologie 2011; 31(04): 264-268
DOI: 10.5482/ha-1152
Review
Schattauer GmbH

The role of platelets in defence against pathogens

Die Rolle der Thrombozyten in der Abwehr von pathogenen Keimen
K. J. Clemetson
1   Dept. of Haematology, Inselspital, University of Bern, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received: 02 May 2011

accepted: 06 June 2011

Publication Date:
27 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Many more platelets are present in healthy mammals than are necessary for routine haemostasis. Thus, they could have other functions. Platelets have many of the attributes of innate immune function including Toll-like receptors. They also contain a wide range of anti-microbial peptides in storage granules. Platelets play an important role in bacterial infections, both in disease progress and in defence mechanisms depending on circumstances. Similar mechanisms are used in defence against fungi. Platelets are also involved in viral diseases, either in protecting from the immune system or in killing viruses that activate platelets. Finally, platelets have a role in defence against parasitic diseases, in particular malaria, that should not be ignored, and may aggravate some of the worst aspects. Platelets also have receptors for IgE and are implicated via parasitic disorders in development and problems of allergy.

Zusammenfassung

Gesunde Säugetiere haben viel mehr Thrombozyten, als für die normale Hämostase notwendig sind. Somit könnten sie weitere Funktionen besitzen. Thrombozyten verfügen über viele Eigenschaften einer angeborenen Immunfunktion (z. B. Toll-like Rezeptoren). Sie enthalten auch ein breites Spektrum an antimikrobiellen Peptiden in Speicherkörnchen. Thrombozyten spielen eine wichtige Rolle bei bakteriellen Infektionen: je nach Situation sowohl bei der Krankheitsprogression als auch bei Abwehrmechanismen. Ähnliche Mechanismen kommen bei der Abwehr von Pilzen zum Tragen. Thrombozyten sind außerdem bei Viruskrankheiten involviert, entweder beim Schutz durch das Immunsystem oder bei der Elimination von Viren, die Thrombozyten aktivieren. Schließlich haben Thrombozyten Bedeutung bei der Abwehr von Parasitenkrankheiten, v. a. Malaria, durch die sich einige der schlimmsten Aspekte verschlechtern könnten. Thrombozyten besitzen auch IgE-Rezeptoren und sind so über Parasitenkrankheiten an der Entstehung von Allergien und den damit verbundenen Problemen beteiligt.

Keywords

Platelets - haemostasis - immunology - bacteria - fungi - viruses - parasites - allergies

Schlüsselwörter

Thrombozyten - Hämostase - Immunologie - Bakterien - Pilze - Viren - Parasiten - Allergien
 

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