Interrupting the cycle of inflammation that leads to deep vein thrombosis

Neutrophils and platelets form an inflammatory circuit between inflammasomes and neutrophil extracellular traps: A role in thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition where a blood clot forms in one of the veins deep in the leg, usually in the calf. DVT causes pain, swelling and redness and is a medical emergency because, if the clot dislodges, it can travel to the lung causing a potentially fatal obstruction. It can usually be prevented by treatments that stop blood clots forming. However, in some patients, these drugs can lead to bleeding that is hard to stop. In this project, Dr Brill and his team at the University of Birmingham hope to find new ways to prevent DVT without interfering with the normal blood clotting process. They believe that net-like structures released from some white blood cells - called NETs – promote inflammation and, in turn, this inflammation causes more NETs to be released. This cycle of inflammation could be promoting the development of DVT. The researchers will explore how this ‘vicious cycle’ between NETs and the inflammasome – the family of molecules responsible for inflammation – works by studying human platelets and neutrophils in the lab. Through this, the researchers hope to identify molecules which drive this process, and will look at the effects of blocking them in mice with DVT. If successful, this project could lead to further studies to see how the molecules identified could be exploited to treat DVT.