Inflammation amplification

[Guest guest]

The paper

E. Boilard et al., “Platelets amplify inflammation in arthritis via collagen-dependent microparticle production,†Science, 327:580–83, 2010. http://bit.ly/plateletRA

The finding

An international team led by Lee at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital was surprised to find cell-surface markers from platelets in the fluid of inflamed joints, which rarely contain blood. They traced the markers to “microparticles,†tiny vesicles that form by budding from the membranes of activated platelets.

The surprise

The platelet microparticles were found in electron micrographs of joint fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. They were 10-fold more abundant than microparticles from other cell types.

The chain reaction

Depleting platelets using an antibody seemed to cure arthritis in mice, and isolated microparticles injected into mice induced normal joint cells to release inflammatory cytokines. “We don’t think they’re the initiator,†of inflammation, Lee says. Instead, platelet-derived microparticles appear to amplify the initial disease event. Faculty Member Mauro Perretti writes that the study “elegantly demonstrates an unequivocal functional role for platelets and platelet microparticles†in joint inflammation.

The bigger picture

Microparticles are an emerging mechanism of communication between cells; Lee hopes this might generate interest in the roles of platelets in inflammation and other diseases. Platelets, Lee says, are “a lot more complex than [their] role in coagulation.†Read more: Inflammation amplification - The Scientist - Magazine of the Life Sciences http://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/57595/#ixzz0x6bMToIW

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