Long recognized for their role in maintaining hemostasis, with defects in their number or function leading to bleeding and hyperactivity predisposing to thrombosis, platelets are increasingly emerging as key regulators of an extensive array of physiological and pathological processes.
By storing and releasing a wide range of biologically active substances through their granules and microparticles, platelets contribute to processes such as: cardiovascular development, vascular integrity, angiogenesis, inflammation, immunity, responses to viral and bacterial infections, wound healing and bone formation, to name a few. Platelets and platelet-derived products are also frequently used as therapeutic agents, increasing the healing efficiency in maxillo-facial and plastic surgery, as well as in sports medicine.
On the other hand, platelets are also involved in pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis and related diseases, as well as diseases of the central nervous systems (including Alzheimer’s disease, depression and multiple sclerosis). Moreover, platelets participate in auto-immune diseases, such as allergies, skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and liver disease.
The scope of this Research Topic is to increase our current understanding of the wider contribution of platelets in physiological and pathological conditions, in the effort to raise awareness of the ever-increasing scope of platelet functions.
We encourage authors to contribute original research, methodology papers and review articles focusing on classic and non-traditional roles of platelets. This includes, and is not limited to, the role of genetic and environmental factors in platelet biology; novel signaling pathways involved in platelet function; circadian rhythms in platelet biology and response to therapy; the role of innate and acquired platelet defects in predisposition to bleeding and thrombosis; the pharmacology and personalized therapy of antiplatelet agents, including monitoring of these agents; in vitro and pre-clinical models of platelet function; platelets in health and disease, with emphasis on novel contributions of platelets in non-traditional roles; the interplay between platelets, the immune system and response to infections; platelets as regenerative actors; and platelets and their microparticles as modulators of health and disease. We further have interest in platelet biology in special populations, including neonatal, pediatric and adult healthy and diseased populations.
Long recognized for their role in maintaining hemostasis, with defects in their number or function leading to bleeding and hyperactivity predisposing to thrombosis, platelets are increasingly emerging as key regulators of an extensive array of physiological and pathological processes.
By storing and releasing a wide range of biologically active substances through their granules and microparticles, platelets contribute to processes such as: cardiovascular development, vascular integrity, angiogenesis, inflammation, immunity, responses to viral and bacterial infections, wound healing and bone formation, to name a few. Platelets and platelet-derived products are also frequently used as therapeutic agents, increasing the healing efficiency in maxillo-facial and plastic surgery, as well as in sports medicine.
On the other hand, platelets are also involved in pathological conditions, such as atherosclerosis and related diseases, as well as diseases of the central nervous systems (including Alzheimer’s disease, depression and multiple sclerosis). Moreover, platelets participate in auto-immune diseases, such as allergies, skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and liver disease.
The scope of this Research Topic is to increase our current understanding of the wider contribution of platelets in physiological and pathological conditions, in the effort to raise awareness of the ever-increasing scope of platelet functions.
We encourage authors to contribute original research, methodology papers and review articles focusing on classic and non-traditional roles of platelets. This includes, and is not limited to, the role of genetic and environmental factors in platelet biology; novel signaling pathways involved in platelet function; circadian rhythms in platelet biology and response to therapy; the role of innate and acquired platelet defects in predisposition to bleeding and thrombosis; the pharmacology and personalized therapy of antiplatelet agents, including monitoring of these agents; in vitro and pre-clinical models of platelet function; platelets in health and disease, with emphasis on novel contributions of platelets in non-traditional roles; the interplay between platelets, the immune system and response to infections; platelets as regenerative actors; and platelets and their microparticles as modulators of health and disease. We further have interest in platelet biology in special populations, including neonatal, pediatric and adult healthy and diseased populations.
