Forces to be reckoned with (Image: Science Photo Library)
THE little plate-shaped fragments that pack our blood seem to do much more than just help with clotting. Not only do they play an unexpected role in a host of diseases, they also fight infection and promote healing. Targeting these fragments may stop cancer from spreading, alleviate arthritis and open up new opportunities for treating diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis.
Platelets are well known for their role in preventing bleeding: once activated (pictured, on either side of a white blood cell), they clump together to form clots. People with…
