Platelets mediate acetaminophen hepatotoxicity.

In this issue of Blood, Miyakawa et al show that platelets and protease-activated receptor (PAR)-4 contribute to acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver damage. Using various strategies in a mouse model of APAP overdose, the authors demonstrate that platelets participate in the progression of liver damage, and that the direct thrombin inhibitor lepirudin and PAR-4 deficiency attenuate hepatotoxicity. These findings have the potential to help identify future therapeutic targets for APAP-induced hepatotoxicity.