Platelets in glomerular disease

Platelets are viewed as inflammatory cells and play an important role in hemostasis and wound repair. During activation, platelets secrete a wide variety of products that have multiple effects on target cell behavior during tissue remodeling. Among these secretory products are chemotactins, growth factors and fibrogenic substances. This review examines evidence for a role of platelets in glomerular disease and discusses mechanisms of how platelet secretory products may alter permselectivity of the glomerular basement membrane, resulting in enhanced immune complex localization. Also, platelet secretory products may stimulate glomerular remodeling after injury through mechanisms involving cell migration, proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis, ultimately distorting the normal glomerular architecture and function.