Reticulated Platelets Enhance Myocardial Scarring After Ischaemia/ Reperfusion Injury (A07 (P07))

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422681845

This project examines a hitherto ill-investigated subpopulation of the most numerous myeloid cell representative – platelets. Reticulated (i.e. young RNA-rich) platelets are hyper-reactive and have features not present in mature plate¬lets. P07 will study their contribu¬tion to excess post-MI scarring by amplifying leukocyte or resident cell responses, using novel models for in vivo (in mice that possess only reticulated platelets) and in vitro research (sorting of func¬tional reticulated platelets). The project translates murine findings to validation in a porcine MI model, and it will conduct an observational clinical study, correlating concentrations of reticulated platelets with clinical outcomes post-MI. A better understanding of this platelet subpopulation and its interaction partners will help in identifying novel therapeutic targets to complement or improve conventional antiplatelet therapy during post-MI lesion development.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1425: Heterocellular Nature of Cardiac Lesions: Identities, Interactions, Implications
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Daniel Dürschmied; Dr. Thomas Nührenberg, until 9/2021