Platelets Are Not Just for Clots

Although the role of platelets as central mediators of hemostasis and thrombosis has been the primary focus of research into platelet biology for more than a century, over the last decade, nonhemostatic functions of platelets have been increasingly defined. As such, a large body of experimental evidence now exists, which places the platelet as a key player in mediating a diverse range of immune, inflammatory, and malignant disease processes. This review outlines the central mechanisms that underpin the nonhemostatic role of platelets and provides a summary of evidence demonstrating a role for platelets in mediating selected inflammatory, immune, and malignant disease processes.