MICROPARTICLES

Microparticles and coagulation protein



Microparticles and coagulation protein

Microparticles

Microparticles (MPs) are nanosized membrane vesicles, also named microvesicles, which are formed by budding of cell membranes upon activation or apoptosis and released into body fluids, such as blood, urine and synovial fluid. In the past, they have been considered to be inert cell debris (“platelet dust”).

MPs still bear antigens derived from their parental cells. By using specific antibodies it was shown that the majority of MPs detected in blood originates from platelets. Other blood cells such as leucocytes, erythrocytes, endothelial cells and also malignant cells all may shed MPs. MPs have been ...