Modification of immunological features in human platelets during sepsis.

Sepsis is an organic dysfunction that puts at risk the life of patients suffering this disorder due to an exacerbated immunological response to the infection mediated by the host. Platelets have been largely researched on sepsis owing to its role in Disseminated Intracellular Coagulation (DIC) and because thrombocytopenia is an important clinical feature of these patients. Nevertheless, a great number of evidence shows that platelets have also an important role in immunological response since they have pattern recognition receptors, chemokine receptors and granules with stored soluble mediators.