Mechanical Contraction of Blood Clots Impaired Due to Platelet Dysfunction and Disintegration

Platelets are the smallest blood cells that play a pivotal role in generation of mechanical forces to induce blood clot contraction. By pulling on fibrin fibers platelets cause volumetric shrinkage of blood clots and thrombi that makes them stiff and impermeable. Despite pathophysiological importance of the platelet contractile function, the relationship between platelet contractility and their metabolic and structural states is largely unknown....