Most people think platelets only help stop bleeding. But new research shows they do much more — especially in autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis (MG).
Platelets Can Fuel Inflammation
In MG, platelets are overactive. They team up with another immune cell called neutrophils. Together, they create a loop that keeps the body inflamed:
Neutrophils release sticky traps (called NETs) that activate platelets.
Activated platelets then make neutrophils release even more traps.
This cycle makes inflammation worse.
This kind of teamwork between platelets and neutrophils may also happen in other autoimmune diseases.
Platelets Affect the Immune System
Platelets in MG don’t just cause inflammation—they also:
Boost immune cells that attack the body
Block cells that calm the immune system
This makes it harder for the body to control the disease.
A New Way to Treat Autoimmune Disease?
The study found that blocking a molecule called RANTES helped calm down platelets and reduce inflammation. That means platelets could be a new target for treatment—not just in MG, but maybe in other autoimmune diseases too.
What This Means for You
If you live with an autoimmune condition, this research is hopeful. It shows that:
Platelets may play a bigger role in your disease than we thought.
New treatments could focus on calming platelets to reduce inflammation.
Science is learning more every day—and that means better care and more options for you.
Read the full scientific study report
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