Platelets
A small, colorless, disc-shaped particle found in the blood of mammals. It plays an
important role in the formation of blood clots
Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are derived from megakaryocytes, which are
derived from stem cells in the bone marrow.
Properties
Platelets circulate in the blood and are involved in hemostasis, leading to the
formation of blood clots and blood coagulation.
Platelets lack a nucleus, but do contain some organelles, such as mitochondria and
endoplasmic reticulum fragments.
If the number of platelets in the blood is too low, excessive bleeding can occur.
However, if the number of platelets is too high, blood clots can form ( thrombosis ),
which may obstruct blood vessels.
Platelets are a natural source of growth factors involved in wound healing,
coagulatants, and inflammatory mediators
Platelet Structure and Distribution
Platelets are irregularly shaped, have no nucleus, and typically measure only 2–3
micrometers in diameter.
Platelets are not true cells, but are instead classified as cell fragments produced by
megakaryocytes. Because they lack a nucleus, they do not contain nuclear DNA.
However, they do contain mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA, as well as
endoplasmic reticulum fragments and granules from the megakaryocyte parent cells.
Platelets also contain adhesive proteins that allow them to adhere to fibrin mesh and
the vascular endothelium, as well as to a microtubule and microfilament skeleton that
extends into filaments during platelet activation.
Less than 1% of whole blood consists of platelets. They are about 1/10 th to 1/20th as
abundant as white blood cells.
Platelet Formation / Thrombopoiesis
Platelets are produced during hematopoiesis in a sub-process called thromopoiesis,
or production of thrombocytes. Thrombopoiesis occurs from common myeloid
progenitor cells in the bone marrow, which differentiate into promegakaryocytes and
then into megakaryocytes. Megakaryocytes stay in the bone marrow and are thought
to produce protoplatelets within their cytoplasm, which are released in cytoplasmic
extensions upon cytokine stimulus. The protoplatelets then break up into hundreds of
platelets that circulate throughout the bloodstream
Megakaryocyte and platelet production is regulated by thrombopoietin, a hormone
produced by the liver and kidneys. Thrombopoietin stimulates differentiation of
myeloid progenitor cells into megakaryocytes and causes the release of platelets.
Thrombopoietin is regulated by a negative feedback mechanism based on platelet
levels in the body so that high levels of platelets result in lower levels of
thrombopoietin, while low levels of platelets result in higher levels of
thrombopoietin
Platelet Functions
Platelets circulate in blood plasma and are primarily involved in hemostasis
(stopping the flow of blood during injury), by causing the formation of blood clots,
also known as coagulation. The adhesive surface proteins of platelets allow them to
accumulate on the fibrin mesh at an injury site to form a platelet plug that clots the
blood. The complex process of wound repair can only begin once the clot has
stopped bleeding.
Platelet Functions (Continue)
Platelets secrete many factors involved in coagulation and wound healing. During
coagulation, they release factors that increase local platelet aggregation (thromboxane A),
mediate inflammation (serotonin), and promote blood coagulation through increasing
thrombin and fibrin (thromboplastin). They also release wound healing-associated growth
factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), which directs cell movement;
TGF beta (Transforming growth factor beta), which stimulates the deposition of
extracellular matrix tissue into a wound during healing; and vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF), which stimulates angiogenesis, or the regrowth of blood vessels. These
growth factors play a significant role in the repair and regeneration of connective tissues.
Local application of these platelet-produced healing-associated factors in increased
concentrations has been used as an adjunct to wound healing for several decades.
Platelet Functions (Continue)
If the number of platelets is too low, excessive bleeding can occur and wound
healing will be impaired. However, if the number of platelets is too high, blood
clots can form (thrombosis), which may obstruct blood vessels and result in
ischemic tissue damage caused by a stroke, myocardial infarction, pulmonary
embolism, or the blockage of blood vessels to other parts of the body. Thrombosis
also occurs when blood is allowed to pool, which causes clotting factors and
platelets to form a blood clot even in the absence of an injury.