Investigate the Role of Ectoenzymes in Regulating the Haemostatic Function of Human Platelets

血小板是血液中发现的细胞，对受伤后止血至关重要。这些细胞粘附在血管壁上，并开始形成血栓，堵塞受伤的血管。类似的过程也参与了有害血栓的形成，这些血栓阻塞了心脏或大脑中的血管，分别导致心脏病发作和中风。血小板通过位于血小板表面的称为受体的蛋白质粘附在血管壁上。我们正在研究自然调节这些受体的过程，从而调节血小板的粘附特性。我们已经发现，一组酶，也位于血小板表面，删除这些受体，从而限制这些细胞的能力，坚持血管和形成凝块。解开这些过程不仅有助于我们理解健康和疾病中的凝块形成，而且还有助于预防心脏病和中风的新疗法的潜在发展。

Platelets are cells found in the blood that are essential for stopping bleeding after injury. These cells stick to the blood vessel wall and initiate the formation of a blood clot which plugs the injured blood vessel. Similiar processes are involved in the formation of harmful blood clots that block blood vessels in the heart or brain, causing heart attacks and stroks, respectively. Platelets stick to the blood vessel wall through proteins called receptors, which are located on the platelet surface. We are investigating the processes that naturally regulate these receptors and therefore modulate the adhesive properties of platelets. We have found that a group of enzymes, also located on the platelet surface, remove these receptors, thereby limiting the ability of these cells to stick to blood vessels and form clots. Unravelling these processes will not only help with our understanding of clot formation in health and disease, but also with the potential development of new therapies for the prevention of heart disease and stroke.