Cellular microparticles: a disseminated storage pool of bioactive vascular effectors.
OBJECTIVE
Microparticles (MP) or microvesicles are fragments shed from the plasma membrane of stimulated or apoptotic cells. Having long been considered inert debris reflecting cellular activation or damage, MP are now acknowledged as cellular effectors involved in cell-cell crosstalk. This review focuses on procoagulant MP circulating in the vascular compartment, their role in hemostasis and thrombosis, and possible impact in vascular functions.


RESULTS
Microparticles can be viewed as a "storage pool" by themselves, disseminating blood-borne tissue factor activity and procoagulant phospholipids. Increasing evidences of integrated loops involving dynamic exchanges and transfer events through multiple MP-cell interactions are summarized.


CONCLUSIONS
Microparticles can be considered true targets in the pharmacological control of thrombosis. Another challenging issue is to take advantage of their procoagulant potential for the management of hemophilia.
Morel
Olivier
O
Institut d'Hématologie et d'Immunolgie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Louis Pasteur, 4 rue Kirschleger, 67085 Strasbourg Cedex, France.
Toti
Florence
F
Hugel
Bénédicte
B
Freyssinet
Jean-Marie
JM
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins