Platelets play a principal role in modulating inflammation through the shedding of CD40 ligand, leading to a new understanding of their function beyond homeostasis.
Highlights the paradigm shift in understanding platelet function in inflammation and the use of aspirin in bypass surgery.
Until a few years ago, we did not understand the pivotal role of platelets in orchestrating the process of inflammation. The discovery in 1998 that CD40 ligand is shed from activated platelets to directly initiate inflammation of the vessel wall1 was a seminal event. It led to a new understanding of the function of platelets, clarifying that, in addition to their well-established function of governance of homeostasis, platelets also have the integrated role of principal modulator of inflammation. Not only do platelets account for 90 percent of the CD40 ligand in the body, but they contain and produce key inflammatory . . .
Eric J. Topol (2002) reported an editorial. Aspirin was evaluated. Platelets play a principal role in modulating inflammation through the shedding of CD40 ligand, leading to a new understanding of their function beyond homeostasis.