SHIP1 In Platelets Practices First Aid

Main Category: Blood / Hematology
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Stroke
Article Date: 11 Mar 2007 - 15:00 PDT

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Platelets are cell fragments in the blood that have a central role in regulating hemostasis, the physiologic process whereby bleeding is stopped. Deregulation of platelet function can therefore lead to uncontrolled bleeding or to the formation of thrombi, which can block blood vessels and, in the heart and brain, lead to heart attacks and strokes. In a new study appearing online in advance of publication in the April print issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Marie-Pierre Gratacap and colleagues from Toulouse, France, show that in mice, the protein SHIP1 is important for normal hemostasis. Mice lacking SHIP1 bled longer after tail injury and formed smaller thrombi that contained fewer platelets than normal mice. Consistent with these in vivo studies, when platelets from SHIP1-deficient mice were stimulated in vitro they formed smaller aggregates than platelets from normal mice. This study therefore identifies a new function for SHIP1 in regulating platelet function to sustain normal hemostasis.

TITLE: Deficiency of Src homology 2 domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 1 affects platelet responses and thrombus growth

AUTHOR CONTACT:
Marie-Pierre Gratacap
Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan et Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.

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JCI table of contents -- March 8, 2006

Contact: Karen Honey
Journal of Clinical Investigation

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