Where is Waldo? or find the platelet
Authors: D G Menter
Journal: Cancer and Metastasis Reviews (2021)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: Cancer; Coagulation; Immune response; Metastasis; Platelets
Affiliations: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. .

Abstract:  Platelets evolved from nucleated thrombocytes that exhibit both coagulation and immune function. The essential role of platelets in coagulation is common knowledge. The larger and critical role of platelets in immune responses and cancer are frequently overlooked in our modern-day, large-data-set, sequencing-oriented efforts. Much like Waldo, their small size, biophysical characteristics, rapid biological responses, active cytoskeleton, migration capacity, and lack of a nucleus make them difficult to track as single platelets disappear while executing their function into the histologic "tissue scape". The adaptive evolution of platelets is linked to placentalization and stopping massive blood loss. This resulted in exclusion of any platelet nucleus and therefore sustainable gene expression due to being extruded in the billions (1011) per day from megakaryocytes under bone marrow protection. The platelets' small size and sheer number in circulation, combined with an active open canalicular exchange- and membrane-reserve system, plus an array of pathogen receptors enable them to deal with small pathogenic viral treats and to decorate larger ones for further immune identification and immune-cell recruitment. Once stimulated, platelets release most serum-based cytokines and growth factors that contribute to cell growth and wound repair, and potentially to immune suppression. From a self-taught practitioner of the illustrative arts with a ken for platelet biology, this offering is a humble attempt to provide a stimulating sketch of the critical importance of platelet biology and insights into potential new directions for finding the Waldo-esque platelet. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This paper shows how to construct a new concept.  First you or others propose to group  diseases under a new acronym: ASIA. ASIA is for autoimmune (autoinflammatory) syndrome induced by adjuvants. For me, it needs to fulfill two criteria: - autoimmune (autoinflammatory) - induced by adjuvants The author proposes that the so-called Gulf War syndrome should be considered as ASIA. But:  We don t know the etiology of this syndrome and adjuvants have not been firmly associated with this. So, I conclude that Gulf War syndrome should be regarded as AS and not ASIA. About autoimmunity:  Autoimmunity is not recognized in this condition. And the problem is that we don t know about the evidences that allow the author suggesting an increase risk for autoimmunity. Thus, in conclusion, Gulf war syndrome is not ASIA but S for syndrome. , 
 You are right #1, this is pure intellectual construction Furthermore, the authors present a lot of confounding conditions:   A likely scenario could be: Obesity due to depression leading to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (see for example Romero-Corral A et al. Chest 2010;137:711-719). Sleep apneas lead then to hypertension (see for example Dopp JM et al. Curr Hypertens Rep 2007;9:529-534). And then to fatigue. This explains this statement:  It s not worth to imagine an autoimmune disease. I propose that these patients show be cured by internists and not immunologists. ,