title: Platelet-mediated inflammation in cardiovascular disease. Potential role of platelet-endothelium interactions.
abstract: Inflammation of the vascular wall is considered as the principal underlying mechanism in the development of atherosclerosis. Besides their specific functions in haemostasis via thrombus formation after an endothelial injury, a growing body of evidence indicates that platelets play an important role in the inflammatory reactions occurring in the vascular wall as well as in the subsequent tissue repair mechanisms. Platelets interact with activated endothelium as well as with circulating leukocytes and progenitor cells. These interactions, involve direct cell-to-cell interactions as well as autocrine and paracrine pathways, which lead to activation of platelets and their respective cellular counterpart. An increasing body of evidence suggests that antiplatelet therapy may reduce vascular inflammation primarily by inhibiting platelet activation. The aim of the present review is to highlight the molecular basis of platelet-mediated inflammatory response, focusing on the mechanisms underlying the platelet-endothelial cell interaction. The anti-inflammatory effects of current antiplatelet therapies will be also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Tsoumani
authors.forename: Kallirroi I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Kalantzi
authors.forename: Ioannis A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Goudevenos
authors.forename: Alexandros D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Tselepis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors