American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology
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Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. · Jul 2018
ReviewAmicus or Adversary Revisited: Platelets in Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
Platelets are essential cellular effectors of hemostasis and contribute to disease as circulating effectors of pathologic thrombosis. These are their most widely known biologic activities. ⋯ Studies in the last decade indicate unique interactions of platelets and their precursor, the megakaryocyte, in the lung and implicate platelets as essential effectors in experimental acute lung injury and clinical acute respiratory distress syndrome. Additional discoveries derived from evolving work will be required to precisely define the contributions of platelets to complex subphenotypes of acute lung injury and to determine if these remarkable and versatile blood cells are therapeutic targets in acute respiratory distress syndrome.