Polyphosphate: a new player in the field of hemostasis.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

Polyphosphate (polyP) is an inorganic polymer that has recently been shown to be secreted by activated platelets. It is a potent modulator of the blood clotting and complement systems in hemostasis, thrombosis, and inflammation.

RECENT FINDINGS:

This review focuses on what is currently known about which blood cells secrete polyP, and the roles that polyP plays in modulating the blood clotting and complement systems in health and disease.

SUMMARY:

PolyP is a novel player in normal hemostasis and likely plays roles in thrombotic diseases and also in host responses to pathogens. It is also potentially a drug target, as its contributions to hemostasis appear to be to accelerate blood clotting but are not required for blood clotting to happen.

• Authors: Stephanie A Smith, James H Morrissey
• Journal: Current opinion in hematology (Curr Opin Hematol) Vol. 21 Issue 5 Pg. 388-94 (Sep 2014) ISSN: 1531-7048 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25010799 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Review)

Chemical References

• Polyphosphates

Topics

• Animals
• Basophils (metabolism)
• Blood Platelets (metabolism)
• Hemostasis
• Humans
• Inflammation (metabolism)
• Mast Cells (metabolism)
• Polyphosphates (metabolism)