Abstract
Chemokines or chemotactic cytokines are chemical signaling molecules that have a regulatory effect on the orientation of endothelial and epithelial cells, especially leukocytes, immune and inflammatory response, and cell regeneration. They are important in the management of endothelial damage, physical harm, atherosclerosis, vascular injury, bleeding, coagulation, interneuron transmission, and platelet functions. Chemokines are divided into four main subfamilies: CXC, CC, CX3C, and C. All of these proteins exert their biological effects by interacting with G-protein-coupled transmembrane receptors called chemokine receptors, which are selectively present on the surfaces of their target cells. Platelet chemokines increase the recruitment of various hematopoietic cells to the vascular wall by nurturing processes, such as neointima formation, atherosclerosis, and thrombosis, while also promoting vessel repair and regeneration after vascular injury. Regarding platelets, CXCL4 (platelet factor 4 and PF4) and the chemokine CXCL7, which is processed from platelet basic protein to connective tissue activating peptide-III and β-thrombomodulin, to its active form neutrophil-activating peptide-2, which are the most abundant. In this chapter, chemokines that are more effective on platelets will be discussed.