Blood platelets are necessary for normal haemostasis but also form life-threatening arterial thrombi when atherosclerotic plaques rupture. Activated platelets release many extracellular vesicles during thrombosis. Phosphatidylserine-exposing microparticles promote coagulation. Small exosomes released during granule secretion deliver cargoes including microRNAs to cells throughout the cardiovascular system. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which platelets release these extracellular vesicles, together with the possibility of inhibiting this release as an antithrombotic strategy.
Keywords: Exocytosis; Exosomes; Extracellular vesicles; Microparticles; Phosphatidylserine; Platelets; Thrombosis.
© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.