Platelet Factor 4: A Mysterious Chemokine in Inflammatory Regulation Diseases

Yibing Ji,1,* Qian Zhang,2,* Hua Li,3,* Lixia Chen,3 Yuzhuo Wu,4 Sheng Lin1,2 1College of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, People’s Republic of China; 2Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, People’s Republic of China; 3Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110016, People’s Republic of China; 4Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, 116000, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Yuzhuo Wu, Email [email protected] Sheng Lin, Email [email protected]: Platelet factor 4 (PF4), also referred to as CXCL4, is a significant component of the C-X-C chemokine family, predominantly localized within the alpha granules of platelets. It is recognized for its anti-heparin and anti-angiogenic properties. However, the involvement of PF4 in inflammatory processes has not been extensively investigated. This article aims to explore the diverse functions of PF4 in the context of inflammatory diseases, emphasizing its potential dual regulatory roles across various immune cell types and pathological conditions. Recent research has enhanced our comprehension of PF4, revealing its production not only in platelets but also in macrophages and activated T cells, thereby extending its functional repertoire beyond its conventional roles. Consequently, this review provides a thorough analysis of PF4’s influence on inflammatory diseases and offers perspectives and recommendations for future research endeavors.Keywords: platelet factor 4, inflammatory disease, cellular immune