Table 1.

Hemostasis-relevant platelet receptors and respective ligands in neonates

ReceptorLigandLigand expression in preterm infantsLigand expression in term infantsReferences
GPIb VWF (h) Increased in preterm; unusually large VWF multimers Increased 106,107  
 Thrombin (h) See PAR Thrombin below   
 P-selectin (m, h, r) Reduced in fetal platelets and endothelial cells Normal P-selectin content in unstimulated human samples but reduced surface expression in stimulated platelets 3,108  
 Mac-1 (m, h) Reduced on fetal neutrophils, related to gestational age  63,64,109  
GPIIb Fibrinogen (h) Slightly reduced in small-for-gestational-age and extremely premature infants No difference (slight increase around day 5 postnatal) 110,,-113  
 VWF (h) See GPIb VWF above   
 Vitronectin (h)  Reduced 114  
 Fibronectin (h) Reduced Reduced 115,116  
GPVI; GPIa/IIa Collagen (r, h) Changing collagen types during fetal development 117,,-120  
PAR Thrombin (h) Thrombin generation similar between preterm and term infants; prothrombin activity below term neonates. Prothrombin ∼50% of adult values (contradicting results for peak thrombin activity) 113,121,,,,,-127  
P2Y ADP (h)  Reduced dense granules and ADP content 128,129  
Thromboxane receptor Thromboxane A2 (h) Reduced platelet release upon collagen stimulation. Elevated thromboxane levels in plasma; reduced production by washed platelets 30,130  
ReceptorLigandLigand expression in preterm infantsLigand expression in term infantsReferences
GPIb VWF (h) Increased in preterm; unusually large VWF multimers Increased 106,107  
 Thrombin (h) See PAR Thrombin below   
 P-selectin (m, h, r) Reduced in fetal platelets and endothelial cells Normal P-selectin content in unstimulated human samples but reduced surface expression in stimulated platelets 3,108  
 Mac-1 (m, h) Reduced on fetal neutrophils, related to gestational age  63,64,109  
GPIIb Fibrinogen (h) Slightly reduced in small-for-gestational-age and extremely premature infants No difference (slight increase around day 5 postnatal) 110,,-113  
 VWF (h) See GPIb VWF above   
 Vitronectin (h)  Reduced 114  
 Fibronectin (h) Reduced Reduced 115,116  
GPVI; GPIa/IIa Collagen (r, h) Changing collagen types during fetal development 117,,-120  
PAR Thrombin (h) Thrombin generation similar between preterm and term infants; prothrombin activity below term neonates. Prothrombin ∼50% of adult values (contradicting results for peak thrombin activity) 113,121,,,,,-127  
P2Y ADP (h)  Reduced dense granules and ADP content 128,129  
Thromboxane receptor Thromboxane A2 (h) Reduced platelet release upon collagen stimulation. Elevated thromboxane levels in plasma; reduced production by washed platelets 30,130  

h, human data; m, mouse data; r, rat data.

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