PDF icon Download PDF
Semin Thromb Hemost 2015; 41(04): 405-412
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1544002
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Procoagulant Platelets and the Pathways Leading to Cell Death

Vu Minh Hua
1   Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
,
Vivien Mun Yee Chen
1   Lowy Cancer Research Centre, Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
2   Department of Haematology, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
16 April 2015 (online)

   Permissions and Reprints
Preview

Abstract

Platelets are critical mediators of thrombosis and hemostasis. In response to agonist, platelets aggregate to form a thrombus via ligand binding of the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor. However, activated platelets are heterogeneous in nature and a subset of platelets stimulated by strong agonists support the assembly of the coagulation complexes. It is proposed that these “procoagulant” platelets have a unique role in hemostasis and thrombosis as the link between primary and secondary hemostasis, localizing the thrombin burst required for fibrin formation to micro-domains within the platelet thrombus. Loss of procoagulant potential leads to bleeding while an increase is linked with propensity to thrombosis. While many features of the procoagulant platelet are known, the exact nature of the procoagulant platelet remains controversial. It is noted that many of the morphological and biochemical features of procoagulant platelets are also features of the cyclophilin D necrosis pathway. This review will focus on the distinct roles of platelet subpopulations, the identity of the procoagulant platelet, and the potential role of the cell death pathways in regulating platelet procoagulant response.

Keywords

procoagulant - platelet - necrosis - apoptosis