Platelet influence on T- and B-cell responses

Understanding the adaptive immune response is an area of research critically important in medicine. Several positive regulators of B- and T-cell activation exist to eliminate pathogens, in which CD40 ligand (CD154) plays a fundamental role. It is well documented that CD154 expressed by CD4 T helper cells can be critical in the proper activation of dendritic cells for the productive stimulation of CD8 T cells and is required for proper T-dependent B-cell immunity. However, platelets are an abundant and systemic source of CD154. While classically known to be important for hemostasis and inflammation, several lines of evidence suggest that platelet-derived ligands can modulate the adaptive immune compartment.