Summary
New methods for analysing both platelet and plasma forms of the platelet-specific
collagen receptor, glycoprotein VI (GPVI) in experimental models or human clinical
samples, and the development of the first therapeutic compounds based on dimeric soluble
GPVI-Fc or anti-GPVI antibody-based constructs, coincide with increased understanding
of the potential pathophysiological role of GPVI ligand binding and shedding. Platelet
GPVI not only mediates platelet activation at the site of vascular injury where collagen
is exposed, but is also implicated in the pathogenesis of other diseases, such as
atherosclerosis and coagulopathy, rheumatoid arthritis and tumour metastasis. Here,
we describe some of the critical mechanisms for generating soluble GPVI from platelets,
and future avenues for exploiting this unique platelet-specific receptor for diagnosis
and/or disease prevention.
Keywords
Glycoprotein VI - shedding - platelets - thrombosis - thrombocytopenia