Platelets at the vascular interface

Essentials•Part 1 of this review summarizes recent findings on the exquisite balance between activating and inhibitory mechanisms that control platelet adhesiveness in the circulation and at sites of vascular injury.•Part 2 of this review discusses molecular differences and similarities for how platelets secure vascular integrity at sites of inflammation and at sites of mechanical trauma.ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWe thank Dorsaf Ghalloussi, Robert Lee and David Paul for their feedback on exciting science presented at the 2017 ISTH meeting. This work was supported by the American Heart Association (14EIA18910004) and NIH grant P01 HL120846 (W.B.) and the Young Researchers Program Rita Levi Montalcini (L.S.).Italian Ministry of EducationYoung Researchers Program Rita Levi MontalciniNational Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteP01 HL120846American Heart Association14EIA18910004In this brief review paper, we will summarize the State‐of‐the‐Art on how platelet reactivity is regulated in circulation and at sites of vascular injury. Our review discusses recent and ongoing work presented at this year's International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) meeting, on the role of platelets in (i) classical hemostasis at sites of mechanical injury, and (ii) the maintenance of vascular integrity at sites of inflammation.