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Structure and Function of Platelets

Structure and Function of Platelets

The cell fragments known as platelets are disc-shaped, with an average diameter of about 3 μm and a thickness of roughly 1 μm. They play a crucial role in the body's vascular clotting system, which also involves plasma proteins, blood cells, and blood vessel tissues.
Platelets are continually replenished, circulating in the bloodstream for 9-12 days before being removed by phagocytes, primarily in the spleen. A microliter of circulating blood contains between 150,000 and 450,000...

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Procoagulant Platelet Characterization by Measuring Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Microvesicle Release from Human Purified Platelets

Procoagulant Platelet Characterization by Measuring Phosphatidylserine Exposure and Microvesicle Release from Human Purified Platelets

Published on: November 29, 2024

Deciphering Abnormal Platelet Subpopulations in COVID-19, Sepsis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus through Machine

Xinru Qiu¹, Meera G Nair¹, Lukasz Jaroszewski¹

¹Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of California Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|June 19, 2024

Summary

Activated platelets show diverse gene expression patterns impacting sepsis, COVID-19, and SLE. Identifying these platelet subtypes offers new therapeutic targets for severe diseases.

Keywords:

COVID-19 machine learning platelets sepsis single-cell RNA-seq

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Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry

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Published on: June 26, 2018

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Real-time Imaging of Heterotypic Platelet-neutrophil Interactions on the Activated Endothelium During Vascular Inflammation and Thrombus Formation in Live Mice

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Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry

Single-cell Analysis of Immunophenotype and Cytokine Production in Peripheral Whole Blood via Mass Cytometry

Published on: June 26, 2018

Area of Science:

Hematology
Immunology
Genomics

Background:

Platelet heterogeneity in activated states is poorly understood.
Activated platelets play a role in sepsis, COVID-19, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze single-cell transcriptional profiles of activated platelets.
To identify platelet subpopulations linked to disease severity and patient outcomes.
To discover biomarkers for targeted platelet therapies.

Main Methods:

Single-cell RNA sequencing of 47,977 platelets from 413 patient samples.
Machine learning (Deep Neural Network, eXtreme Gradient Boosting) for outcome prediction.
Bioinformatic analysis including UMAP, SingleR, and Seurat for subtyping.

Main Results:

Identified distinct platelet subpopulations correlating with disease severity.
Found that altered platelet transcription intensifies endotheliopathy and coagulation in fatal cases.
Observed potential impact of platelet changes on lymphocyte function, suggesting broader immune roles.

Conclusions:

Platelet transcriptional heterogeneity is a key factor in severe diseases.
Biomarkers for platelet dysfunction can guide novel therapeutic strategies.
Targeting platelet activation may improve outcomes in critical illnesses.