Membrane microparticles: two sides of the coin.
Microparticles are plasma membrane-derived vesicles shed from stimulated cells, in the broad sense of the term. Their presence is interpreted by proximal or remote cells in fundamental physiological processes including intercellular communication, hemostasis, and immunity. On the other hand, variations of their number or characteristics are frequently observed in pathophysiological situations.
Hugel
Bénédicte
B
Institut d'Hématologie et d'Immunologie, Université Louis Pasteur, Faculté de Médecine, Strasbourg, France.
Martínez
M Carmen
MC
Kunzelmann
Corinne
C
Freyssinet
Jean-Marie
JM
D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002468:Cell Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000502:physiology; D010316:Particle Size; D021381:Protein Transport