“…Platelets are one of the largest sources of growth factors in the body and actively influence tissue healing processes. Thus, platelets contain: platelet-derived epidermal growth factor (PD-EGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), transforming growth factor (TGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) [5,14,18]. In addition, α-granules of platelets contain adhesive proteins (fibrinogen, fibronectin, vitronectin, thrombospondin-1), coagulation factors (factor V, factor XI, protein S, antithrombin), fibrinolytic factors (plasminogen, urokinase inhibitor, α-2 antiplasmin), proteases and antiproteases (TIMP-4, metalloproteinase-4, α-1 antitrypsin), basic proteins (platelet factor 4, βthromboglobulin, endostatins), membrane glycoproteins (CD40-ligand, P-selectin).…”