Platelets and inflammation
Platelets may be activated directly by inflammatory physical exposure of damaged subendothelium. This triggers the haemostatic cascades which protect the damaged surface and limit haemorrhage.
Alternatively, stimulation from on-going inflammation may come from platelet activating factor released from mast cells on degranulation, or antigen-antibody complexes which bind to specific receptors on the surface of platelets.
The mediators released by platelets can have many roles:
- 5-HT, prostaglandins and lysosomal contents stimulate vascular contraction and increased vessel permeability
- platelet derived growth factors important role in fibroplasia, angiogenesis and re-epithelialization
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