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Updated: Jun 10, 2025

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function
06:47

Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function

Published on: November 8, 2024

793

The role of platelets and megakaryocytes in sepsis and ARDS

Gabriel Leung1, Elizabeth A Middleton1,2

  • 1Division of Pulmonary, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

The Journal of Physiology
|October 19, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Megakaryocytes and platelets are key players in systemic inflammation during infections like sepsis. Understanding their role in lung injury and organ failure is crucial for developing new treatments for critical illnesses.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Systemic inflammation, including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis, causes significant mortality and morbidity.
  • Despite clinical care improvements, severe cases have high mortality rates (∼40%) and persistent morbidity.
  • Identifying underlying biological mechanisms and drivers of organ failure is essential for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the contribution of megakaryocytes (MKs) and platelets to systemic inflammatory syndromes.
  • To explore the role of MKs, including extramedullary MKs, in sepsis pathogenesis.
  • To examine alterations in platelet transcriptome and function during sepsis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on megakaryocytes and platelets in systemic inflammation.
  • Analysis of studies on extramedullary MKs during sepsis.
  • Examination of research on platelet transcriptome and functional changes in sepsis.

Main Results:

  • Megakaryocytes (MKs) and platelets are implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic inflammatory syndromes.
  • Extramedullary MKs have been identified during sepsis, highlighting their role beyond the bone marrow.
  • Sepsis induces significant alterations in the platelet transcriptome and affects platelet function, including aggregation and heterotypic aggregate formation.

Conclusions:

  • Platelets are increasingly recognized as key contributors to inflammation in critical illnesses.
  • Further research is necessary to fully elucidate the complex role of platelets in diverse systemic inflammatory syndromes.
  • Understanding platelet involvement may reveal novel therapeutic targets for sepsis and ARDS.

Keywords:
ARDSimmunothrombosismegakaryocyteplateletsepsis

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