Another tidbit of info from the European Hematology Meeting
Dr. Lawrence Brass of the Univ. of Pennsylvania and his group have set out to define all of the proteins that platelets shed. He is calling this the "platelet sheddome."
Turns out his group has found 1,049 different proteins that platelets give off when they are activated (ready to stop clots) and sometimes when they are not activated. These proteins do things, like signal other cells.
The researchers are now trying to find out exactly what each of these proteins do. He noted that some of the proteins may not be from platelets and his group may find more as the work continues.
I asked an ITP researcher who was also at the session what this means for people with few platelets. He didn't know. He also thought the 1,049 number was inflated.
Whatever the number, platelets are much more complex and involved than previously thought.
Topic Author