Investigation of Activating signals Transmitted during Platelet Aggregation

血小板是一种特殊的粘附细胞，通过其快速粘附到血管损伤部位的能力，在正常的血液凝固过程中发挥关键作用。在血管损伤时，血小板经历许多内部信号传导过程和结构变化，使其能够快速粘附到损伤区域。在这种初始粘附过程之后，发生血小板-血小板相互作用，导致形成稳定的血凝块。我们的研究旨在更深入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相关的有害血凝块（血栓）的发展。我们特别关注的是在血小板血栓形成过程中血小板相互沟通的方式。特别是，我们感兴趣的作用，钙作为一个信号介导的血小板-血小板通信。我们相信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.