Abstract

Platelets are at the crossroads between thrombosis and inflammation. When activated, platelets can shed bioactive extracellular vesicles [pEVs] that share the hemostatic potential of their parent cells and act as bioactive shuttles of their granular contents. In a viral infection, platelets are activated, and pEVs are generated with occasional virion integration. Both platelets and pEVs are engaged in a bidirectional interaction with neutrophils and other cells of the immune system and the hemostatic pathways. Severe COVID-19 infection is characterized by a stormy thromboinflammatory response with platelets and their EVs at the center stage of this reaction. This review sheds light on the interactions of platelets, pEVS and SARS-CoV-2 infection and prognostic and potential therapeutic role of pEVs. The review also describes the role of pEVs in the rare adenovirus-based COVID-19 vaccine-induced thrombosis thrombocytopenia.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103459
JournalTransfusion and Apheresis Science
Volume61
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Extracellular vesicles
  • Microparticles
  • Platelets
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • VITT

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology

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