platelets and inflammation
Last reviewed 01/2018
Platelets may be activated directly by inflammatory physical exposure of damaged subendothelium. This triggers the haemostatic cascades which protect the damaged surface and limit haemorrhage.
Alternatively, stimulation from on-going inflammation may come from platelet activating factor released from mast cells on degranulation, or antigen-antibody complexes which bind to specific receptors on the surface of platelets.
The mediators released by platelets can have many roles:
- 5-HT, prostaglandins and lysosomal contents stimulate vascular contraction and increased vessel permeability
- platelet derived growth factors important role in fibroplasia, angiogenesis and re-epithelialization