Platelets and chemokines in atherosclerosis: partners in crime.
It becomes increasingly evident that blood platelets do not only exert important functions in hemostasis and thrombus formation but are also involved in atherosclerotic vascular disease. A major portion of the underlying mechanisms is related to an intricate functional interaction of platelets with chemokines, which have also been implicated in atherogenesis and neointima formation: (1) Platelets can induce the secretion of chemokines in different cells of the vascular wall; (2) In combination with primary agonists, certain chemokines can potentiate platelet aggregation and adhesion; (3) Activated platelets can release and deposit chemokines and precursors on vascular cell surfaces, which trigger atherogenic recruitment of vascular cells or modulate crucial processes such as angiogenesis and lipoprotein metabolism; (4) Surface-adherent platelets can bind and present vascular cell-derived chemokines to trigger arrest of circulating mononuclear cells. The close linkage between platelets and chemokines as culprits in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases may provide a valuable target for selective interventions.
Weber
Christian
C
Department of Molecular Cardiovascular Research, University Hospital, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule, Aachen, Germany. cweber@ukaachen.de
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000293:injuries; D018925:Chemokines / Q000502:physiology*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000503:physiopathology; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010978:Platelet Factor 4 / Q000502:physiology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000503:physiopathology
D018925:Chemokines; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010978:Platelet Factor 4