Endogenous mechanisms of inhibition of platelet function

Platelets play an important role in coagulation, in maintenance of hemostasis, and in the pathophysiology of thrombotic diseases. In response to blood vessel injury, platelets accumulate at the site, recruit other platelets, promote clotting, and form a hemostatic plug to prevent hemorrhage. By contrast, several inhibitory mechanisms modulate platelet function and act in a synergistic manner to prevent pathologic thrombus formation. This review focuses on the principal endogenous inhibitors of platelet function and the central role of the normal endothelium in these inhibitory processes. The main endothelium-derived platelet inhibitors include nitric oxide, prostacyclin, and Ecto-ADPase/CD39/NTPDase. Each of these factors is discussed in turn, and the specific mechanisms by which they inhibit platelet function are reviewed.