Desialylation by neuraminidases in platelets, kiss of death or bittersweet?

Purpose of review Loss of surface sialic acid by neuraminidases is known as ‘desialylation’. Platelets are desialylated in bacterial or viral infections, during storage, senescence, various mutations, platelet auto antibodies, hemostasis and shear stress. In this review the recent literature on the different sialic acid capped glycan structures will be covered as well as platelet desialylation in inherited glycan disorders and induced by external neuraminidases. Recent findings Neuraminidases are released from platelet intracellular stores and translocated to the platelet surface. Apart from clearance, loss of surface sialic acid by neuraminidases (‘desialylation’) affects platelet signaling including ligand binding and their procoagulant function. Platelets are also desialylated in infections, various mutations, presence of platelet auto antibodies. Summary Since platelet desialylation occurs in various healthy and pathological conditions, measuring desialylation might be a new diagnostic tool.