Platelets Found to Influence Autoimmune Diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis
A recent discovery by a team of Quebec researchers sheds light on the previously unknown role of platelets in autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. The study revealed that platelets facilitate the infiltration of white blood cells into joints, leading to chronic inflammation.
Professor Éric Boilard from Laval University’s Faculty of Medicine emphasized the significance of platelets in enabling white blood cells to adhere to antibodies, highlighting the crucial role they play in this process.
While the role of platelets in wound healing has long been recognized, the researchers sought to investigate whether this mechanism extends to autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, where white blood cells invade tissues or organs in the absence of bleeding or vessel damage.
Laboratory experiments demonstrated that platelets are pivotal for white blood cell adhesion in a liquid environment such as blood. Further experiments on transgenic mice revealed that blocking the interaction between platelets and white blood cells alleviated disease symptoms, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach.
The study’s findings, indicating a promising avenue for treating autoimmune diseases by targeting platelet-white blood cell binding, have been published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.
