Platelets in sepsis - are there any new aspects?

Platelets display a number of properties besides the crucial function of repairing a damaged vascular endothelium and stopping bleeding. Platelets constitutively express molecules that are classically acknowledged to function in primary haemostasis. Platelets specialize in pro-inflammatory activities, and can secrete a large number of molecules, many of which display biological response modifier functions. Recently, platelets expressing receptors for infectious and possibly noninfectious danger signals were shown to be involved in pathophysiological reactions including an immune-inflammatory response. In sepsis, platelets play a key role in immunothrombosis, participate in the formation of NETs (neutrophil extracellular trap) resulting in the trapping and killing of pathogens and are one of the main factors influencing mortality.