Heart Attack Gene Triggers Clot Formation

New research may have paved the way for future treatments targeting the so-called heart attack gene, myeloid related protein-14 (MRP-14). Daniel I Simon, MD, the Herman K Hellerstein Professor of Cardiovascular Research and Medicine at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and director of the University Hospitals Harrington Heart and Vascular Institute, and colleagues studied both humans and mice to uncover how MRP-14 generates dangerous clots that could trigger heart attack or stroke. As well as discovering a previously unrecognized platelet-dependent pathway of thrombosis, the researchers also found that while MRP-14 is required for pathologic blood clotting, it does not appear to be involved in the natural, primary hemostasis response to prevent bleeding. "The practical significance of this research is that it may provide a new target to develop more effective and safer anti-thrombotic agents," said Professor Simon. "If we could develop an agent that affects pathologic clotting and not hemostasis, that would be a home run. You would have a safer medication to treat pathologic clotting in heart attack and stroke."