The research of the section "platelet signal transduction" is focussed on the mechanisms that regulate the activation and inhibition of platelet functions. Specifically, the concept of "stimulus-response coupling" is characterized in detail including receptor identification, signal generation by activated receptors, signaltransduction pathways in the cytosol and the mechanisms that execute the different platelet functions. Part of these studies make use of cultures of human megakaryocytes to assess the biogenesis of activating and inhibiting pathways of the platelet.
Towards accomplishing our mission our research currently focus on the following topics:
1. Control of platelet signal tranduction: from receptor to cell function
2. Megakaryocytes: the biogenesis of the platelet activating machinery
3. Transfusion: preservation of platelet hemostatic activity
These projects are under the supervision of Prof. Dr. J.W.N. Akkerman and Dr. H.F.G. Heijnen.