The Role of the Platelet in Human Diseases
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 6452
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Platelets are known to play a key role in thrombosis and hemostasis. In primary hemostasis, platelets are activated and adhere to the subendothelium to form platelet plugs. Overactive platelets lead to thrombosis, which in turn leads to arterial ischemia and infarction. In addition to thrombosis and hemostasis, platelets are now known to play a major role in a number of additional functions, including development of cancers, inflammatory responses, and innate immune reactions. Platelets can respond to signals from circulating tumor cells, circulatory cells, endocrine cells, and immune cells. Activated by these signals, platelets secrete over 300 active substances, including coagulation factors, growth factors, chemokines, cytokines, microbicidal proteins, and RNA species, affecting many physiological and pathophysiological processes beyond hemostasis. As bidirectional communicators, platelets can also take up plasma contents and even cellular components, thus providing another mechanism to influence pathophysiological processes.
Recent developments in platelet biology have demonstrated the role of platelets in the pathophysiology of a variety of diseases beyond coagulation disorders, including cancer, digestive disorders, respiratory disorders, neurological disorders, dermatological disorders, autoimmune diseases, and diabetes. In the pathophysiology of these diseases, platelets are both effectors and targets, making clinical applications very promising to identify and quantify specific platelet content as new biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Specifically, platelet membrane proteins, platelet-derived microparticles, platelet non-coding RNAs, platelet releasers, and platelet post-translational modifications may be dramatically altered in many diseases and therefore may be novel therapeutic targets for a number of pathological conditions.
In this issue, we welcome manuscripts that specifically address molecular studies of platelet function or platelet content as novel biomarkers or therapeutic targets for human disease. We encourage authors to submit original articles, reviews, and short communications related to this research topic. We expect submissions related to, but not limited to, the following topics:
- Interactions between platelet and cancer cells;
- Platelet as new biomarkers and targets for human disease;
- Platelet communication with the environment;
- New treatment strategies for platelet-related diseases;
- Proteomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics of platelet.
Prof. Dr. Si Zhang
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- platelet
- platelet membrane proteins
- platelet-derived microparticles
- platelet non-coding RNAs
- platelet releasers
- platelet post-translational modifications
- platelet-related diseases
