Platelets: the Initiator and Promoter of Atherosclerosis

Abstract: Atherosclerosis is a complex pathological process， and a variety of theories have been proposed to explain the pathogenesis from different perspectives. However， none of these theories can explain the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis clearly. Endothelial cells， leukocytes， platelets and intimal smooth muscle cells are the major participants in the development of this disease. Together with cytokines， growth factors etc， they compose a complicated network-structure， which leads to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. Moreover， platelet and its significant role in the atherosclerosis pathogenesis have drawn more and more attention. In the initial stage of atherosclerosis， platelets induce the formation of atherosclerosis plaques， while they also contribute to the complications of atherosclerosis in the later stage. This article focuses on summarizing the relationship between platelets and atherosclerosis， so as to provide some vital theoretical foundations for the early diagnosis and antiplatelet therapy of atherosclerosis.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2010.05.0018