Role of platelets in chronic liver disease and acute liver injury

Abstract

Platelets contain not only hemostatic factors but also many growth factors that play important roles in wound healing and tissue repair. Platelets have already been used for the promotion of tissue regeneration in the clinical setting, such as dental implantation and plastic surgery. Thrombocytopenia, which is frequently found in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, is due to various causes such as decreased thrombopoietin production and accelerated platelet destruction caused by hypersplenism. However, the relationship between thrombocytopenia and hepatic pathogenesis and the role of platelets in chronic liver disease are poorly understood. In acute liver injury, it is reported that platelets are recruited to the liver and contribute to liver damage by promoting the induction of chemotactic factors and the accumulation of leukocytes in the liver, whereas platelets or mediators released by platelets can have a protective effect against liver injury. In this review, we highlight the recent accumulated knowledge concerning the role of platelets in chronic liver disease and acute liver injury.

Secreted IL‐1α promotes T‐cell activation and expansion of CD11b+Gr1+ cells in carbon tetrachloride‐induced liver injury in mice

“…CCl 4 requires CYP2E1 activation to induce liver injury. We examined CYP2E1 gene expression and activity and found that secreted and membrane IL-1α had no effect on CYP2E1 activity (Supporting Information Fig.…”

“…A single dose of 100 mg/kg gemcitabine (LC Laboratories, Woburn, MA) was injected into mice i.p. 24 h before administration of CCl 4 . The survival of the mice was observed.…”

“…Liver damage by proinflammatory cytokines induced by these causes is a relevant mechanism for liver cell death [3]. Acute liver injury remains one of the most challenging problems in liver diseases, and new therapeutic options for treatment of acute liver injury are urgently needed [4]. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) is widely used as a chemical inducer of acute or chronic liver injury in rodents depending on the dosage and administration frequency [5].…”

“…ROS and oxidative stress are then generated and inflammatory cells are recruited, which leads to hepatocyte degeneration and necrosis [6,7]. Parenchymal cells could regenerate that involves a complex regulated response after CCl 4 -induced acute liver injury [8]. Therefore, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory therapies are thought to be the effective ways to prevent and attenuate CCl 4 -induced liver damage.…”

Platelets Activation and Liver Transplantation

“…Platelets contain not only the proteins needed for hemostasis such as serotonin, adenosine 5′-diphosphate, adenosine 5′-triphosphate, and sphingosine 1-phosphate, but also many growth factors such as hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and transforming growth factor-β, which are required for tissue regeneration or repair [16][17][18]. Platelets play a crucial role in promoting liver regeneration [19,20] as well as both preventive and promoting effects on the progression of liver fibrosis and both protective and harmful effects concerning acute liver injury in vitro and in vivo.…”