Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
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Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. · Jan 2004
Platelet-monocyte complexes support monocyte adhesion to endothelium by enhancing secondary tethering and cluster formation.
Adhesion of monocytes to endothelium can be supported by monocyte-monocyte interactions resulting in the formation of cell aggregates at the vessel wall (clusters). Since platelets that are bound to the injured vessel wall support monocyte adhesion and platelet activation in the circulation leads to formation of platelet-monocyte complexes (PMCs), we examined whether adhesion of PMCs to the vessel wall enhances monocyte clustering. ⋯ PMCs in the circulation might be proatherogenic, and prevention of their formation is a possible therapeutic goal.