The interaction of circulating blood cells with the vessel endothelium is a complex mechanism that is extensively explored in vascular biology research. Changes of the endothelial properties, i.e. by inflammatory processes, lead to altered interaction with blood cells and to functional activation of certain blood cells.

The “Platelet Biology” research group at our institute works on the identification and functional characterization of receptors involved in platelet function. Surprisingly, human platelets are equipped with a number of different receptors and transporters known from neuronal cells. The research on the functional role and clinical relevance of the neuronal receptors is one of the key aspects of our work. We were the first to show that nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are expressed on human platelets and are involved in their function.

With our anonymized DNA bank of healthy blood donors we provide an important study cohort that has been used already in numerous national and international studies for the identification of genetic risk factors for breast and other cancers, pancreatitis as well as coronary and cerebrovascular diseases.

The current research projects aim to

investigate the expression and function of acetylcholine receptors in platelets from Alzheimer patients (in collaboration with ZI Mannheim)
validate the platelet nAChRa7 as a peripheral blood biomarker for the Alzheimer diagnosis (in collaboration with ZI Mannheim)
estimate the functional role and clinical relevance of the individually different expression of various platelet receptors (P2Y12, TBXA2R, nAChRa7, etc.).
The experimental work is predominantly performed on platelets from volunteer donors and patients as well as human cell culture models of megakaryopiesis. Our most important laboratory methods include

Nucleic acid analysis (Sanger sequencing, Next-Generation-Sequencing, SNP typing, RealTime-PCR)
Protein analysis (Western blot, flow cytometry, ELISA)
Cell biology (humane megakaryoblastic cell lines, megakaryopoiesis from human cord blood cells, intracellular calcium imaging, cAMP measurement)
Platelet function (impedance-aggregometry, flow cytometry, platelet-specific antibody diagnostics, adhesion measurement under flow conditions).