MicroRNAs as potential regulators of platelet function and bleeding diatheses

Abstract

Although a growing number of studies suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a relevant role in platelet biology, their implications in bleeding diatheses are starting to be investigated. Indeed, several studies have shown that alterations in the intracellular levels of highly expressed platelet miRNAs provoke a thrombotic phenotype. On the other hand, primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), which is considered the hallmark of acquired bleeding disorders, has been recently associated with altered levels of miRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, plasma, and platelets. In this review, we will focus on miRNAs that may affect the hemostatic and thrombotic functions of platelets, and we will discuss the different studies that have attempted to associate miRNAs with regulatory mechanisms of ITP.

KEYWORDS:

• MicroRNAs
• platelet function
• immune thrombocytopenia
• bleeding

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by research grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) [PI17/00051 and CB15/00055] and Fundación Séneca [19873/GERM/15]. ABA has a research fellowship from Sociedad Española de Trombosis y Hemostasia (SETH).