title: Platelets: inflammatory firebugs of vascular walls.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease. Platelets can "inflame" the vascular wall by various mechanisms and thereby initiate and support the development of atherosclerosis. Platelet interaction with leukocytes, endothelial cells, and circulating progenitor cells triggers autocrine and paracrine activation processes, leading to inflammatory and atherogenic cascades at the vascular wall. This review highlights the molecular key components and pathways used by platelets to trigger and accelerate inflammation at the vascular wall and, thereby, atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik III, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 10, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany. andreas.may@med.uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Andreas E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seizer
authors.forename: Meinrad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gawaz
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000503:physiopathology*