Lesyk Gabriela, Jurasz Paul
Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019 Sep 13;6:138. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00138. eCollection 2019.
Although lacking a nucleus, platelets are increasingly recognized not only for their complexity, but also for their diversity. Some 50 years ago platelet subpopulations were characterized by size and density, and these characteristics were thought to reflect platelet aging. Since, our knowledge of platelet heterogeneity has grown to recognize that differences in platelet biochemistry and function exist. This includes the identification of vanguard and follower platelets, platelets with differing procoagulant ability including "COAT-platelets" which enhance procoagulant protein retention on their surface, and most recently, the identification of platelet subpopulations with a differential ability to generate and respond to nitric oxide. Hence, in this mini-review, we summarize the current knowledge of platelet subpopulation diversity focusing on their physical, biochemical, and functional heterogeneity. In addition, we review how platelet subpopulations may change between health and disease and how differences among platelets may influence response to anti-platelet therapy. Finally, we look forward and discuss some of the future directions and challenges for this growing field of platelet research.
尽管血小板没有细胞核，但它们的复杂性和多样性越来越受到认可。大约50年前，血小板亚群是根据大小和密度来表征的，这些特征被认为反映了血小板的老化。此后，我们对血小板异质性的认识不断发展，认识到血小板在生物化学和功能上存在差异。这包括识别先锋血小板和跟随血小板、具有不同促凝能力的血小板，包括能增强促凝蛋白在其表面保留的“包被血小板”，以及最近识别出的具有不同一氧化氮生成和反应能力的血小板亚群。因此，在这篇小型综述中，我们总结了目前关于血小板亚群多样性的知识，重点关注它们的物理、生化和功能异质性。此外，我们还综述了血小板亚群在健康和疾病之间可能如何变化，以及血小板之间的差异可能如何影响抗血小板治疗的反应。最后，我们展望并讨论了这个不断发展的血小板研究领域的一些未来方向和挑战。
