Platelets and Their Factors

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XXVIII

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2. Platelet Development, Morphology and Physiology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Megakaryocytopoiesis: The Megakaryocyte/Platelet Haemostatic Axis

      • A. S. Brown, J. D. Erusalimsky, J. F. Martin

      Pages 3-26

   3. Human Platelet Morphology/Ultrastructure

      • E. Morgenstern

      Pages 27-60

   4. Platelet Adhesion

      • G. H. van Zanten, P. G. de Groot, J. J. Sixma

      Pages 61-81

   5. Platelet Aggregation

      • A. Ruf, M. M. Frojmovic, H. Patscheke

      Pages 83-98

3. Platelet Biochemistry, Signal Transduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 99-99

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   2. Platelet Receptors: The Thrombin Receptor

      • W. Siess

      Pages 101-116

   3. Platelet ADP/Purinergic Receptors

      • C. Gachet, J.-P. Cazenave

      Pages 117-134

   4. Platelet Prostaglandin Receptors

      • F. Ushikubi, M. Hirata, S. Narumiya

      Pages 135-154

   5. Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation Receptors

      • K. J. Clemetson, J. Polgár

      Pages 155-179

   6. Platelet G Proteins and Adenylyl and Guanylyl Cyclases

      • D. Koesling, B. Nürnberg

      Pages 181-218

   7. Platelet Phosphodiesterases

      • E. Butt, U. Walter

      Pages 219-230

   8. Platelet Phospholipases C and D

      • S. Nakashima, Y. Banno, Y. Nozawa

      Pages 231-246

   9. Protein Kinase C and Its Interactions with Other Serine-Threonine Kinases

      • J. A. Ware, J. D. Chang

      Pages 247-262

   10. Platelet Protein Tyrosine Kinases

       • P. Presek, E. A. Martinson

       Pages 263-296

   11. Protein Phosphatases in Platelet Function

       • S. P. Watson

       Pages 297-323

   12. Ca2+ Homeostasis in Human Platelets

       • K. S. Authi

       Pages 325-370

   13. Regulation of Platelet Function by Nitric Oxide and Other Nitrogen-and Oxygen-Derived Reactive Species

       • E. Salas, H. Miszta-Lane, M. W. Radomski

       Pages 371-397

   14. Platelet 5-Hydroxytryptamine Transporters

       • G. Rudnick

       Pages 399-416

Platelets playa fundamental, life-saving role in hemostasis and blood clotting at sites of vascular injury. Unwanted platelet activation and arterial thombus formation are, however, implicated in the onset of myocardial infarction, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Acceptance that platelets play a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis including coronary heart disease has revolutionized the pharmacological treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and aspirin is now an essential antiplatelet drug and the golden standard for future developments. Yet the search for better and perhaps safer antiplatelet drugs is one of the most active areas of investigation in both basic and clinical research. Platelets, especially human platelets, have also emerged as one of the major models for the study of inter- and intracellular signal transduction pathways. Many biochemists, cell biologists, pharmacologists, pathologists, hematologists, and cardiologists find platelets useful for studying processes such as adhesion, inside-out and outside-in signalling through the plasma membrane, channels, calcium homeostasis, protein kinases, the network of intracellular signal transduction cascades, and the release of vasoactive substances. The aim of the editors has been to compile chapters summarizing the current state-of-the-art information on the biochemistry, cell biology, pharmacology, and physiologic and pathophysiologic roles of human platelets. We hope that this volume represents the major aspects of current platelet research although it is perhaps inevitable that certain areas are covered less thoroughly than others. We would like to acknowledge the excellent help and support of the Springer-Verlag staff, in particular that of Ms. Doris Walker.

• Calcium
• Nucleotide
• Purine
• biochemistry
• biomolecule
• cardiovascular disease
• enzymes
• metabolism
• pathophysiology
• pharmacology
• physiology
• proteins
• receptor
• research
• translation

• Institut für Pharmakologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

  Franz Bruchhausen

• Institut für Klinische Biochemie und Pathobiochemie, Medinzinische Universitätsklinik, Würzburg, Germany

  Ulrich Walter

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