Understanding Platelet Proteins' Role in Heart Disease -- Research at Penn Medicine

Bruce Sachais, MD, PhD, discusses his lab's research at Penn Medicine. When the human body is bruised or cut, blood platelets take over to help repair vessels, skin, and other tissues. But there is increasing evidence that this activation of platelets plays a role in the build up of fatty deposits on blood vessel walls called atherosclerosis, which leads to heart heart attacks and strokes.

Learn more about atherosclerosis: http://www.pennmedicine.org/encyclopedia/em_DisplayArticle.aspx?gcid=000171&a...

A platelet protein called PF4 has been implicated in this process. The research team at Penn Medicine aims to find out how PF4 promotes atherosclerosis and suggest potentials ways to intervene.

Dr. Sachais is an assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Director of Transfusion Services at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

View these links to learn more:

Penn Medicine:
http://www.pennmedicine.org

Penn Heart and Vascular Center:
http://www.pennmedicine.org/heart

Dr. Sachais' profile:
http://www.pennmedicine.org/WagForm/MainPage.aspx?config=provider&P=PP&am...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• platelet
• research
• atherosclerosis
• heart disease
• penn
• medicine
• penn medicine
• stimulus
• university
• pennsylvania
• philadelphia