Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (544 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Non-nucleated disk-shaped cells formed in the megakaryocyte and found in the blood of all mammals. They are mainly involved in blood coagulation.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Blood Platelet; Platelet, Blood; Platelets, Blood; Platelets; Platelet; Thrombocytes; Thrombocyte.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Blood Cells
- See also
- Platelet Adhesiveness; Platelet Aggregation; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Platelet Count; Platelet Function Tests; Plateletpheresis; Thrombocytopenia; Thrombocytosis
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 87,107 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Blood Platelets” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 10,242 of them (11.8%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 47,394 records.
Reviews account for 9,815 records (11.3%) and meta-analyses for 317. Randomized controlled trials number 1,704 (2.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 47,394 |
| 2000-2009 | 12,615 |
| 2010-2019 | 16,856 |
| 2020 onward | 10,242 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 9,815 | 11.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 317 | 0.4% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,704 | 2.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Blood Platelets"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platelet-derived integrin- and tetraspanin-enriched tethers exacerbate severe inflammation | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 13 | cc by PMID 41570126 · DOI · PMC13385270 |
| FOXM1 regulates platelet-induced anoikis resistance in pancreatic cancer cells | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 5 | cc by PMID 41535944 · DOI · PMC12849465 |
| Prognostic Value of HALP Score in Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis: A Long-Term Follow-up Study | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 4 | cc by PMID 41891398 · DOI · PMC13045295 |
Platelet-derived integrin- and tetraspanin-enriched tethers exacerbate severe inflammation [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Platelet integrin αIIbβ3 is essential for hemostasis, thrombosis, and inflammation.
- Closing excerpt
- We propose that PITTs are proinflammatory structures that amplify immune responses while contributing to platelet dysfunction in thrombo-inflammatory disease.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (126 words)
Platelet integrin αIIbβ3 is essential for hemostasis, thrombosis, and inflammation. We found that ligation of αIIbβ3 by von Willebrand factor or fibrin under flow triggered its accumulation in plasma membrane extensions or "platelet-derived integrin- and tetraspanin-enriched tethers" (PITTs). PITTs remained anchored to leukocytes or endothelial cells, whereas the partially αIIbβ3-deficient platelet body detached. Although still responsive to stimuli, αIIbβ3-deficient platelets did not support thrombus formation. PITTs promoted leukocyte activation and vascular inflammation in mouse models of infection and endotoxemia, and αIIbβ3 blockade reduced immune-mediated tissue damage. In patients with sepsis, COVID-19, or severe infections, PITT formation and platelet αIIbβ3 loss correlated with disease severity and adverse outcomes. We propose that PITTs are proinflammatory structures that amplify immune responses while contributing to platelet dysfunction in thrombo-inflammatory disease.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41570126 · DOI · PMC13385270
FOXM1 regulates platelet-induced anoikis resistance in pancreatic cancer cells [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundResistance to anoikis, a form of programmed cell death that occurs after detachment from the surrounding extracellular matrix, is a prerequisite for the survival of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream.
- Closing excerpt
- ConclusionOverall, these findings suggest that targeting FOXM1 may be a promising therapeutic strategy to interfere with the metastatic progression of pancreatic cancer, which might particularly benefit patients with high blood platelet counts.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (243 words)
BackgroundResistance to anoikis, a form of programmed cell death that occurs after detachment from the surrounding extracellular matrix, is a prerequisite for the survival of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the bloodstream. Platelets can interact with these CTCs and protect them from cytokine- and immune cell-mediated cell death. Whether platelets can regulate anoikis resistance by controlling intrinsic gene expression changes in tumor cells that contribute to metastasis has not been studied in detail in pancreatic cancer cells.MethodsPancreatic cancer cells were cultured under attached or low-attachment conditions to induce and mimic anoikis. The detached cells were co-cultured with platelets and subsequent gene expression analyses were performed to identify deregulated pathways responsible for survival under detached conditions that are mediated by platelets.ResultsWe observed a cell line-dependent sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to anoikis and that anoikis resistance was greatly enhanced by platelet interaction. RNA sequencing and transcriptome analyses identified FOXM1 as a differentially regulated gene between attached and detached cells, and its expression was modulated by platelets via an activated AKT signaling pathway. Manipulating FOXM1 protein expression via gain- and loss-of-function approaches or by inhibiting its activity using small-molecule inhibitors significantly impacts platelet-influenced death rates. Intriguingly, single-cell RNA sequencing and immunohistochemical analyses revealed higher FOXM1 expression in pancreatic cancer metastases than in primary tumors.ConclusionOverall, these findings suggest that targeting FOXM1 may be a promising therapeutic strategy to interfere with the metastatic progression of pancreatic cancer, which might particularly benefit patients with high blood platelet counts.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41535944 · DOI · PMC12849465
Prognostic Value of HALP Score in Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis: A Long-Term Follow-up Study [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-platelet (HALP) score in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS).
- Closing excerpt
- However, its prognostic value appears limited when used alone, and it should be interpreted alongside established clinical and echocardiographic parameters.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (175 words)
ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the hemoglobin-albumin-lymphocyte-platelet (HALP) score in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS).MethodsA total of 169 patients with RMS were retrospectively analyzed over a median follow-up period of 124 months (IQR: 96-148). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). The predictive performance of the HALP score was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, Cox regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.ResultsThe HALP score demonstrated a modest but statistically significant ability to predict MACCE (AUC = 0.644, p = 0.037). The optimal cut-off value was 35.65, with a sensitivity of 60.4% and specificity of 38.1%. Patients with lower HALP scores had a significantly higher incidence of MACCE (log-rank p = 0.015). However, in multivariable analysis, the HALP score was not identified as an independent predictor (p = 0.076).ConclusionThe HALP score may serve as a simple and cost-effective complementary tool for risk stratification in patients with RMS. However, its prognostic value appears limited when used alone, and it should be interpreted alongside established clinical and echocardiographic parameters.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41891398 · DOI · PMC13045295
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in advanced Cancer: Review and meta-analysis [4]
- Research article Meta-analysis of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in rheumatoid arthritis [5]
- Research article Prognostic role of platelet-lymphocyte ratio in colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis [6]
- Research article International Consensus Statement on Platelet Function and Genetic Testing in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 2024 Update [7]
- Research article Platelets: Orchestrators of immunity in host defense and beyond [8]
- Research article Platelet-Related Variants Identified by Exomechip Meta-analysis in 157,293 Individuals [9]
References
- Kusch C, Stegner D, Weiss LJ, Nurden P, Burkard P, Johnson D, et al.. Platelet-derived integrin- and tetraspanin-enriched tethers exacerbate severe inflammation. . 2026. PMID 41570126 · DOI · PMC13385270
- Ernesti-Soldatkin A, Neu CT, Heydel B, Krannich F, Laumen H, Gutschner T, et al.. FOXM1 regulates platelet-induced anoikis resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. . 2026. PMID 41535944 · DOI · PMC12849465
- Kaya AF, Ayhan G, Can V, Özbek E, Dursun L, Kümet Ö. Prognostic Value of HALP Score in Rheumatic Mitral Stenosis: A Long-Term Follow-up Study. . 2026. PMID 41891398 · DOI · PMC13045295
- Li B, Zhou P, Liu Y, Wei H, Yang X, Chen T, et al.. Platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in advanced Cancer: Review and meta-analysis. Clin Chim Acta. 2018. PMID 29678631 · DOI
- Erre GL, Paliogiannis P, Castagna F, Mangoni AA, Carru C, Passiu G, et al.. Meta-analysis of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in rheumatoid arthritis. Eur J Clin Invest. 2019. PMID 30316204 · DOI
- Tan D, Fu Y, Su Q, Wang H. Prognostic role of platelet-lymphocyte ratio in colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2016. PMID 27310960 · DOI · PMC4998446
- Angiolillo DJ, Galli M, Alexopoulos D, Aradi D, Bhatt DL, Bonello L, et al.. International Consensus Statement on Platelet Function and Genetic Testing in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: 2024 Update. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2024. PMID 39603778 · DOI
- Nicolai L, Pekayvaz K, Massberg S. Platelets: Orchestrators of immunity in host defense and beyond. Immunity. 2024. PMID 38749398 · DOI
- Eicher JD, Chami N, Kacprowski T, Nomura A, Chen MH, Yanek LR, et al.. Platelet-Related Variants Identified by Exomechip Meta-analysis in 157,293 Individuals. Am J Hum Genet. 2016. PMID 27346686 · DOI · PMC5005441
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.