title: Endogenous mechanisms of inhibition of platelet function.
abstract: Platelets play an important role in coagulation, in maintenance of hemostasis, and in the pathophysiology of thrombotic diseases. In response to blood vessel injury, platelets accumulate at the site, recruit other platelets, promote clotting, and form a hemostatic plug to prevent hemorrhage. By contrast, several inhibitory mechanisms modulate platelet function and act in a synergistic manner to prevent pathologic thrombus formation. This review focuses on the principal endogenous inhibitors of platelet function and the central role of the normal endothelium in these inhibitory processes. The main endothelium-derived platelet inhibitors include nitric oxide, prostacyclin, and Ecto-ADPase/CD39/NTPDase. Each of these factors is discussed in turn, and the specific mechanisms by which they inhibit platelet function are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Evans Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Voetsch
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loscalzo
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000502:physiology*; D001081:Apyrase / Q000502:physiology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000502:physiology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011464:Epoprostenol; D001081:Apyrase; C067869:CD39 antigen