Cytofluorimetric Platelet Analysis

Cecilia Carubbi; Elena Masselli; Marco Gesi; Daniela Galli; Prisco Mirandola; Marco Vitale; Giuliana Gobbi

doi:10.1055/s-0033-1363472

Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Table of Contents

Semin Thromb Hemost 2014; 40(01): 088-098
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1363472

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Cytofluorimetric Platelet Analysis

Cecilia Carubbi

¹Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences (S.Bi.Bi.T.), Anatomy and Histology Unit, University of Parma, Ospedale Maggiore, Parma, Italy

^*These authors contributed equally to this work.

,

Elena Masselli

¹Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences (S.Bi.Bi.T.), Anatomy and Histology Unit, University of Parma, Ospedale Maggiore, Parma, Italy

^*These authors contributed equally to this work.

,

Marco Gesi

²Department of Human Morphology and Applied Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy

,

Daniela Galli

¹Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences (S.Bi.Bi.T.), Anatomy and Histology Unit, University of Parma, Ospedale Maggiore, Parma, Italy

,

Prisco Mirandola

¹Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences (S.Bi.Bi.T.), Anatomy and Histology Unit, University of Parma, Ospedale Maggiore, Parma, Italy

,

Marco Vitale

¹Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences (S.Bi.Bi.T.), Anatomy and Histology Unit, University of Parma, Ospedale Maggiore, Parma, Italy

,

Giuliana Gobbi

¹Department of Biomedical, Biotechnological and Translational Sciences (S.Bi.Bi.T.), Anatomy and Histology Unit, University of Parma, Ospedale Maggiore, Parma, Italy

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Blood platelets are highly specialized cells that drive hemostatic events and tissue repair mechanisms at the site of vascular injury. Their peculiar morphology and certain functional characteristics can be analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Specifically, platelet activation, a hallmark of prothrombotic states and inflammatory conditions, is associated with changes in expression of both surface and intracellular antigens that are recognized by specific monoclonal antibodies. Assessment of platelet activation status as ex vivo or in vitro reactivity to specific agonists has become relevant in particular conditions (namely, cardiovascular diseases, hematological malignancies, monitoring of pharmacological antiaggregation). In addition, aberrant surface marker expression that characterizes inherited and acquired platelet function disorders is also detected by FCM. This review discusses the main applications of FCM in platelet analyses, which are relevant for both research and clinical settings.

Keywords

platelet disorders - flow cytometry - megakaryocytes - platelets - thrombosis

Full Text

References

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