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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Analyzing Platelet Subpopulations by Multi-color Flow Cytometry
Published on: June 10, 2025
Physiological implications of adenosine receptor-mediated platelet aggregation
Hillary A Johnston-Cox1, Dan Yang, Katya Ravid
1Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
Abstract:
Adenosine is an important mediator of inhibition of platelet activation. This metabolite is released from various cells, as well as generated via activity of ecto-enzymes on the cell surface. Binding of adenosine to A(2) subtypes (A(2A) or A(2B)), G-protein coupled adenosine receptors, results in increased levels of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), a strong inhibitor of platelet activation. The role and importance of adenosine and its receptors in platelet physiology are addressed in this review, including recently identified roles for the A(2B) adenosine receptor as a modulator of platelet activation through its newly described role in the control of expression of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptors.
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