ROLE OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN PLATELET FUNCTION IN NORMAL STATES AND CHRONIC MYELOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS

Platelets play a crucial role in physiological and pathophysiological processes such as primary hemostasis and arterial thrombosis. Growing evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species, mainly superoxide generated by transmembrane NAD(P)H oxidase, have a key regulatory role in platelets. They mediate the intracellular signaling pathways activated by growth factors through tyrosine kinase receptors and the bidirectional signaling through integrins, influencing thus platelet activation and subsequent aggregation. In chronic myeloid leukemia, the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase receptor is constitutively active, kinase inhibitors being currently used as anti-mieloproliferative drugs.