Figure 1
From: Bench-to-bedside review: Circulating microparticles - a new player in sepsis?
Structure of microparticles. Microparticles (MPs) are released from different cell types under physiological and pathological conditions. The plasma membrane is reorganised with active externalisation of phosphatidylserine (PhtdSer; a negatively charged phospholipid) and internalisation of phosphatidylcholine (insert). MPs bear intracytoplasmic and membrane-bound effectors from the originating cells, such as tissue factor (TF) and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) (endothelial cells and monocytes), CD-14 (monocytes) or glycoprotein (GP)Iba-IX-V', P-selectin or integrins (platelets).