Role of fibronectin assembly in platelet thrombus formation

Fibronectin is a component of subendothelial matrices and abundant in plasma. A role of fibronectin in thrombogenesis has been suspected for three decades. Soluble fibronectin is assembled by adherent fibroblasts and platelets and thus converted to an insoluble form that mediates cell adhesion. Recently, in vivo studies using intravital videomicroscopy revealed that plasma fibronectin is important for stabilization of platelet aggregates after vascular injury. This review goes over roles of fibronectin in platelet functions with a focus on fibronectin assembly within developing platelet thrombi.