Platelet function under high shear conditions

SummaryBlood platelets are the first line of defense against bleeding and as such involved in the haemostatic repair of damaged vasculature. Their true prowess seems to be displayed under high shear conditions where platelets interact with a variety of plasma proteins, all of which are tightly regulated to close the leak but at the same time prevent lumen occlusion and thromboembolism. The first task is to arrest fast flowing platelets on exposed collagen of the damaged subendothelial surface. Although platelets are endowed with several collagen receptors, most notably integrin ╒2b®1 and the immunoglobulin super…