CD40LG and chronic kidney disease: Furthermore, platelets have been shown to be able to influence macrophage polarization toward a pro‐inflammatory phenotype in the context of sepsis.[19] Platelets have also been shown to play a similar pathological role in CKD through modulation of inflammation through secreted factors and interaction with immune cells including macrophages.[20] This is mediated through secretion of both pro‐inflammatory factors such as IL‐1β, CD40 Ligand (CD40L), and CCL5 as well as pro‐fibrotic factors such as TGF‐β and PDGFs.