title: Rare platelet GPCR variants: what can we learn?
abstract: Platelet-expressed GPCRs are critical regulators of platelet function. Pharmacological blockade of these receptors forms a powerful therapeutic tool in the treatment and prevention of arterial thrombosis associated with coronary atherosclerosis and ischaemic stroke. However, anti-thrombotic drug therapy is associated with high inter-patient variability in therapeutic response and adverse bleeding side effects. In order to optimize the use of existing anti-platelet drugs and to develop new therapies, more detailed knowledge is required relating to the molecular mechanisms that regulate GPCR and therefore platelet function. One approach has been to identify rare, function-disrupting mutations within key platelet proteins in patients with bleeding disorders. In this review, we describe how an integrated functional genomics strategy has contributed important structure-function information about platelet GPCRs with specific emphasis upon purinergic and thromboxane A2 receptors. We also discuss the potential implications these findings have for pharmacotherapy and for understanding the molecular basis of mild bleeding disorders.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Nisar
authors.affiliation: School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mumford
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Mundell
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled