The potential contribution and role of a blood platelets in autoimmune thyroid diseases

• Published in: Journal of cellular and molecular medicine Vol. 22; no. 12; pp. 6386 - 6390
• Main Authors: Tomczyńska, Małgorzata, Salata, Ireneusz, Bijak, Michał, Saluk‐Bijak, Joanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.12.2018; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adenosine diphosphate; aggregation; Arachidonic acid; Autoimmune Diseases - blood; Autoimmune Diseases - immunology; Autoimmune Diseases - pathology; autoimmune thyroid diseases; Blood cells; Blood circulation; Blood platelets; Blood Platelets - immunology; Blood Platelets - pathology; Cell activation; Cell-Derived Microparticles - immunology; Cell-Derived Microparticles - pathology; Collagen; Female; Flow Cytometry; Graves Disease - blood; Graves Disease - immunology; Graves Disease - pathology; Graves' disease; Hashimoto Disease - blood; Hashimoto Disease - diagnostic imaging; Hashimoto Disease - immunology; Hashimoto Disease - pathology; Hashimoto's thyroiditis; Humans; Image Cytometry; Immune response; Immunomodulation; Inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Male; Microparticles; Pathogenesis; Platelet aggregation; Platelet Aggregation - immunology; platelet‐derived microparticles; Short Communication; Short Communications; Subpopulations; Thyroid diseases; Thyroid Gland - blood supply; Thyroid Gland - pathology; Thyroiditis; Poland; United States > US; blood platelets; aggregation; platelet-derived microparticles; autoimmune thyroid diseases
• ISSN: 1582-1838; 1582-4934
• DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13862

The blood platelets are multifunctional blood cells which are involved in the initiation of atheroma, endothelial dysfunction, and modulation of inflammatory and immune responses in the pathophysiology of many diseases. Because of their multifaceted pro‐inflammatory activity, platelets may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease. The aim of this study was to assess the level of activation and response ability of platelets in AITDs. We used the flow cytometry technique and kinetic measurement of aggregation to analyse platelet function immediately after blood collection and to demonstrate their activation in the circulation of patients with AITDs. We noted reorganization of platelet subpopulations (normal platelets, microparticles and aggregates) in AITDs, dependent on the degree of cell activation. We proved the elevated expression of the active form of integrin receptor GPIIb/IIIa, responsible for platelet aggregation, and in the kinetic test we confirmed the increased aggregation of platelets in different intracellular signal pathways (dependent on ADP, collagen, arachidonic acid). Our study demonstrates the high platelet activation level found in AITDs.