[Recent development in platelet functions: roles beyond thrombosis].

In addition to their roles in thrombosis and hemostasis, there is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that platelets have diverse functions in various biological reactions. Of these, synthesis of specific proteins in a timely manner, involvement in inflammation, roles in anti-bacteria and anti-parasite protection, and supportive roles in liver regeneration have attracted the attention of a number of scientists. We have recently found a novel platelet-activating receptor, CLEC-2, which reacts with a snake venom, Rhodocytin. CLEC-2 has an intracellular signal transduction pathway quite similar to that of GOVI, except for its hemi-Y-xx-L motif. The endogenous ligand for CLEC-2 was identified by us as podoplanin, which is present in renal podocytes, lung alveolar macrophages, and lymphatic endothelial cells, and some types of malignant tumors. We found that CLEC-2/podoplanin interaction plays an important role in the metastasis of tumor cells with podoplanin expression. We have also found that hemophilic interaction between CLEC-2 molecules contributes to thrombus formation in vivo. CLEC-2 interaction with podoplan expressed on lymphatic endothelial cells appears to play an important role in the separation between veins and lymphatic vessels during the stage of fetal development.