Can we prevent heart and circulatory diseases during infection?

Impact of Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated signalling in the modulation of platelet activation, thrombosis and haemostasis (Mr Thomas Vallance)

In this this project Dr Dr Sakthivel Vaiyapuri is studying small blood cells called platelets to find out how blood clotting is affected during infection. Platelets are small blood cells that help to protect us when we are injured. When you cut yourself, platelets become ‘activated’ and stick together to form a plug that seals the cut. But platelets can become activated without injury and can form large clots that block blood vessels, leading to heart attacks and strokes. Platelets can also be activated by infections, leading to heart and circulatory problems. Understanding what controls platelets in both health and disease may reveal better ways to prevent and treat heart and circulatory disease following an infection. Proteins called toll-like receptors (TLRs) are crucial for controlling how our bodies respond to an infection and scientists are investigating how they affect blood clotting when this happens. But we don't yet understand how TLRs control platelet function. In this project, Dr Vaiyapuri’s team will find out how a protein called TLR4 manipulates the platelets during health and infection. They will work out how platelets and blood clotting change in disease, and which molecular pathways control how this receptor works in platelets. By understanding TLR4’s role in blood clotting, this research will help to confirm whether it could be used to prevent platelet-related complications, and even be used to treat heart and circulatory diseases during infection.