Biomarkers of platelet dysfunction in non-clinical safety studies and humans

Platelets are small, anuclear, cellular components of blood with a primary role in hemostasis but emerging roles in tissue homeostasis, immunity and disease. Established clinical evaluations of platelets monitor and characterize certain risks of platelet dysfunction but only yield limited understanding of the mechanism underlying the dysfunction. Here we evaluate technically feasible and accessible biomarkers of platelet function with the potential to sensitively and specifically monitor platelet biology complementing standard platelet indices. These biomarkers are also discussed in the context of their usefulness to monitor platelet–tissue interactions beyond hemostasis. Tools available to evaluate pharmaceutical-induced platelet risks in the clinic and in preclinical animal studies are also introduced.