Abstract

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the recognition and management of thrombotic complications has become a clinical challenge, either in severe cute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) patients or in those receiving vector-based COVID-19 vaccination. In addition to blood clot formation, platelets can also respond to a variety of inflammatory cytokines and act in concert with circulating leukocytes to prevent pathogen infection. Herein, we review the basic biological roles of platelets in infection/inflammation, tools for assessment, and mechanisms of platelet activation to elucidate their immune regulatory roles.