Investigation of Activating signals Transmitted during Platelet Aggregation

血小板是一种特殊的粘附细胞，通过其快速粘附血管损伤部位的能力，在正常的血液凝固过程中起着关键作用。当血管受到损伤时，血小板会经历一系列内部信号传递过程和结构变化，使它们能够迅速附着在损伤区域。在最初的粘附过程之后，血小板与血小板之间的相互作用导致了稳定的血凝块的形成。我们的研究旨在更密切地了解在血凝块形成过程中调节血小板-血小板相互作用的因素，因为这不仅是正常血凝块形成的重要决定因素，而且也是与心脏病发作和中风等疾病发病相关的有害血凝块（血栓）发展的重要决定因素。我们特别关注的是血小板在血小板血栓形成过程中相互沟通的方式。我们特别感兴趣的是钙作为一种信号介导血小板间通讯的作用。我们认为这些钙信号的传递可能是血凝块形成和正常止血的关键信号介质。

The blood platelet is a specialized adhesive cell that plays a critical role in the normal blood clotting process through its ability to rapidly adhere to sites of vascular damage. Upon injury to a blood vessel, platelets undergo a number of internal signalling process and strucural changes that allow them to rapidly adhere to the area of damage. Following this initial adhesion process, platelet-platelet interactions occur leading to the development of a stable blood clot. Our research studies are aimed at understanding more closely the factors that regulate platelet-platelet interactions during the course of blood clot formation, since this is an important determinant not only of normal clot formation, but also in the development of harmful blood clots (thrombi) associated with the onset of diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Our particular focus is on the way in which platelets communicate to one another during the course of platelet thrombus development. Particulary, we are interested in the role of calcium as a signal mediating platelet-platelet communication. We believe that the transmission of these calcium signals may be the key signaling mediator of blood clot formation and normal haemostasis.