Pathophysiology of Autoimmune Thrombocytopenia: Current Insight with a Focus on Thrombopoiesis

Hämostaseologie
Irene Marini, Tamam Bakchoul

Abstract

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a significant reduction in the number of circulating platelets which is frequently associated with bleeding. The total count of platelets in the body is finely regulated by the balance between platelet production and destruction. Although the pathogenesis of ITP is still not completely elucidated, it is largely recognized that the low platelet count observed in ITP patients is due to alterations of both mechanisms. An abnormal proliferation of autoreactive T cells leading to the breakdown of immune tolerance to platelet antigens is suggested to be responsible for the up-regulated proliferation of autoantibody producing B cells. Consequently, the immune response induces enhanced T cell-mediated cytotoxicity and antibody-mediated platelet destruction through phagocytosis, complement activation and apoptosis. An additional contribution to the pathophysiology of ITP is given by alterations of thrombopoiesis caused by platelet-reactive autoantibodies or cytotoxic T cells leading to impaired megakaryocyte differentiation and platelet production. All these processes involved in ITP pathophysiology account for the complexity and heterogeneity in the clinical manife...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 2, 2020·Current Opinion in Hematology·John W SempleRick Kapur
Nov 4, 2020·Clinical Science·Sarah M HicksElizabeth E Gardiner
Dec 22, 2020·Hämostaseologie·Karina AlthausTamam Bakchoul
Mar 7, 2021·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Anurag SinghTamam Bakchoul
Oct 10, 2021·International Journal of Hematology·Junichi KitazawaUNKNOWN Platelet Committee of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases occur as a result of an attack by the immune system on the body’s own tissues resulting in damage and dysfunction. There are different types of autoimmune diseases, in which there is a complex and unknown interaction between genetics and the environment. Discover the latest research on autoimmune diseases here.