Figure 10.

Hypothetical cytoprotective mechanisms triggered by endothelial microparticles released from aPC‐treated cells. The binding of aPC to its receptor, EPCR, causes the specific cleavage of PAR‐1 and activation of its dependent cytoprotective pathway in endothelial cell, thereby causing the up‐regulation of annexin A1 and the release of EPCR and annexin A1 enriched‐MP. These endothelial microparticles act by autocrine and paracrine pathways via the activation of the annexin A1 receptor, FPR2/ALX. They bind to target β‐cells in a phosphatidylserine and FPR2‐dependent manner and exert cytoprotection through the transfer of EPCR / PAR‐1 and downstream via the activation of FPR2/ALX and PAR‐1‐mediated pathways.