Platelets and (Lymph)angiogenesis.

Area of Science:

• Vascular biology
• Cellular signaling

Background:

• New blood and lymphatic vessel formation (angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis) is vital for multicellular organism development and physiological processes like wound repair and tumor growth.
• Circulating platelets were identified in the 1990s as regulators of tumor angiogenesis, releasing angiogenic factors from alpha granules upon interaction with the endothelium.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the established and emerging roles of platelets in various angiogenic processes.
• To highlight the specific importance of platelets in pathological adult angiogenesis, particularly in lymphatic vessel development.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of existing research on platelet function in angiogenesis.
• Analysis of studies investigating platelet involvement in tumor growth, wound resolution, and retinal vascular disease.

Main Results:

• Platelets significantly contribute to tumor angiogenesis and play roles in wound resolution and retinal vascular disease.
• Platelets are essential for lymphatic vessel growth but not vascular growth during development, suggesting a key role in pathological adult angiogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Platelets are critical regulators of both physiological and pathological angiogenesis.
• Further research into targeting platelet production or function could lead to novel therapeutic strategies for limiting detrimental angiogenesis in diseases.