NEUTROPHIL-MEDIATED PLATELET ACTIVATION - A KEY ROLE FOR SERINE PROTEINASES

1. Neutrophils and platelets interact in vitro through multiple bioche mical pathways in both directions, resulting in an inhibition or a pot entiation of their reactivity, depending on, the experimental conditio ns. 2. Under some conditions, a full stimulation of platelets (aggrega tion and degranulation) can be induced by neutrophils. The present rev iew is focused on this aspect for which serine proteinases released fr om the azurophilic granules of neurtophils activate surrounding platel ets. 3. The different facets of this process at the cellular and molec ular levels, are presently depicted and their relevance to the in vivo situation suggested.