This Research Topic is the second volume of the “Innate Immunity: Platelets and their Interaction with other Cellular Elements in Host Defense and Disease Pathogenesis” Community Series. Please see volume I here.

Innate immunity refers to non-specific recognition of non-self or self-components leading to the holistic activation of the immune system, resulting in the clearance of foreign particles, which at times can result in adverse pathological manifestations in the host. Megakaryocyte-derived platelets are a key component of blood, playing a critical role in immune responses via secretion of active mediators. The ability of enucleated platelets to cross-talk with immune cells contributing to innate immune responses, is attributed to the expression of membrane proteins, storage granules, and a plethora of megakaryocyte-derived molecules. Aside from releasing granular mediators, activated platelets also release tiny particles called platelet microvesicles, which take up the role of platelets to a larger extent, and enhance the inflammatory responses by communicating with immune cells and several other cellular elements in the host. This Research Topic will address the role of platelets and other cellular elements in host defense and surveillance mechanisms.

Innate immunity deals with the effective clearance of microbial agents in the host. Platelets are a key component of innate immunity that aim to trap microbial intruders by necessitating the process of clotting, preventing them from disseminating further in the host system. It has also been well established that the platelets are the primary mediators of hemostasis and thrombosis. However, studies explaining their complexity in host immunity largely remain unexplored given that platelets are short-lived, tiny-enucleated, and exhibit multiple functions including wound healing. As platelets have the ability to interact with other cellular elements in the host, and trigger immune responses either directly or indirectly, they are often regarded as one of the first-line defenders against microbial invasion. This Research Topic aims to address the mechanisms of actions of platelets and their interactions with other cellular elements in the host system.

Platelets and other cellular elements are known to impact the immune system. However, the mechanisms involved are not thoroughly understood and this article collection aims to fill the gaps between the nature of the platelets and the immune system by including the recent advances in platelet immunology. We invite Review/Mini-Review, Original Research, and Perspective articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Mechanism and sources of platelet activation

• Role of platelets and other cellular elements in defense mechanisms

• Association of activated platelets in bacterial, parasitic, fungal and viral infections

• Role of platelet activation against viral agents

• Role of platelets and other cellular elements in immune-mediated diseases

• Platelet-microvesicles as immune mediators in health and diseases

• Role of platelets in inflammatory responses

• Functional role of platelets in allergy, and autoimmune diseases

• Platelet interaction with complement mediators in health and disease

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Frontiers in Immunology

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