Interactions of platelet subpopulations and their relevance to anti-platelet therapy

Abstract

Aspirin, often together with a P2Y12 receptor blocker, is used as anti-thrombotic protection for patients at risk of heart attacks and strokes. However, despite these drugs many patients still have an elevated risk of thrombosis. Aspirin and the most widely used P2Y12 receptor blockers are pharmacokinetically short-lived but permanently inhibit circulating platelets. In healthy individuals platelets survive in the circulation for around 7-10 days, but this survival time is reduced in certain conditions, e.g. diabetes, in which there is a greater proportion of platelets newly released from megakaryocytes and greater risk of thrombosis. The relative significances of inhibited (circulating) and uninhibited (newly released) platelets in the formation of platelet thrombi are unexplored. This project will use a range of in vitro and ex vivo studies to understand how these different platelet populations interact in the formation of thrombi and contribute to the failure of anti-thrombotic therapy. (AU)