Identifying proteins that stick platelets and immune cells together

Large-scale screening for membrane protein interactions involved in platelet-monocyte interactions

Dr Yi Sun and his colleagues at the University of Birmingham are studying platelets - small blood cells that are crucial for blood clots to form. Platelets are also involved in the development of many inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, where arteries become furred up with fatty plaques and narrow. In atherosclerosis, platelets interact with immune cells called monocytes. This interaction makes the monocytes ‘eat’ fatty molecules, which aggravates the blood vessel inflammation associated with atherosclerosis, making the disease worse. Platelets attach to monocytes through proteins on their surfaces, but so far only a few of these proteins are known. Dr Sun has created a sensitive technique to study many of these protein interactions simultaneously in a short time. Using this technology, he has previously studied how platelets interact with each other in the blood clotting process, and has identified 126 new proteins involved. In this project, he wants to use this technique to identify the proteins that stick platelets and monocytes together. He will then work out how these interactions are relevant to the inflammatory processes involved in atherosclerosis. This research could reveal new cell surface proteins on platelets and monocytes that could be potential drug targets to treat atherosclerosis.