The role of platelets in sepsis

Sacha F. de Stoppelaar; Cornelis van ’t Veer; Tom van der Poll

doi:10.1160/TH14-02-0126

Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Table of Contents

Thromb Haemost 2014; 112(04): 666-677
DOI: 10.1160/TH14-02-0126

Theme Issue Article

Schattauer GmbH

The role of platelets in sepsis

Sacha F. de Stoppelaar

¹Centre of Experimental and Molecular Medicine and the Centre for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

,

Cornelis van ’t Veer

¹Centre of Experimental and Molecular Medicine and the Centre for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

,

Tom van der Poll

¹Centre of Experimental and Molecular Medicine and the Centre for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

²Division of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Platelets are small circulating anucleate cells that are of crucial importance in haemostasis. Over the last decade, it has become increasingly clear that platelets play an important role in inflammation and can influence both innate and adaptive immunity. Sepsis is a potentially lethal condition caused by detrimental host response to an invading pathogen. Dysbalanced immune response and activation of the coagulation system during sepsis are fundamental events leading to sepsis complications and organ failure. Platelets, being major effector cells in both haemostasis and inflammation, are involved in sepsis pathogenesis and contribute to sepsis complications. Platelets catalyse the development of hyperinflammation, disseminated intravascular coagulation and microthrombosis, and subsequently contribute to multiple organ failure. Inappropriate accumulation and activity of platelets are key events in the development of sepsis-related complications such as acute lung injury and acute kidney injury. Platelet activation readouts could serve as biomarkers for early sepsis recognition; inhibition of platelets in septic patients seems like an important target for immune-modulating therapy and appears promising based on animal models and retrospective human studies.

Keywords

Platelet immunology - infectious diseases - inflammatory mediators

Full Text

References

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