A new role in hemostasis for the adhesion receptor P-selectin.

The adhesion receptor P-selectin has long been known to support leukocyte rolling and emigration at sites of inflammation. Recently, P-selectin was also revealed to be a key molecule in hemostasis and thrombosis, mediating platelet rolling, generating procoagulant microparticles containing active tissue factor and enhancing fibrin deposition. Elevated levels of plasma P-selectin are indicative of thrombotic disorders and predictive of future cardiovascular events. Because the interaction between P-selectin and its receptor P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) represents an important mechanism by which P-selectin induces the formation of procoagulant microparticles and recruits the microparticles to thrombi, anti-thrombotic strategies are currently aimed at inhibiting this interaction. Recent developments also suggest that the procoagulant potential of P-selectin could be used to treat coagulation disorders such as hemophilia A.