SELDI-TOF plasma profiles distinguish individuals in a protein C-deficient family with thrombotic episodes occuring before age 40

Proteomic analysis of venous thromboembolism: an update

Venous thromboembolism is a complex, multifactorial disorder, the pathogenesis of which typically involves a variety of inherited or acquired factors. The multifactorial etiology of this disease and the partial correlation between genotype and prothrombotic phenotype limit greatly the value of genetic analysis in assessing thrombotic risk. The integration of several new 'omics' techniques enables a multifaceted and holistic approach to the study of venous thrombotic processes and pave the way to the search and identification of novel blood biomarkers and/or effectors of thrombus formation that can also be the possible future target of new anticoagulant and thrombolytic therapies for more personalized medicine. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest candidate proteomic biomarkers of venous thrombosis and of the proteomics studies relevant to its pathophysiology, some of which seem to confirm the existence of a common physiopathological basis for venous thromboembolism and atherothrombosis.

Genetic dissection of platelet function in health and disease using systems biology

Technological advances in protein and genetic analysis have altered the means by which platelet disorders can be characterized and studied in health and disease. When integrated into a single analytical framework, these collective technologies are referred to as systems biology, a unified approach that links platelet function with genomic/proteomic studies to provide insight into the role of platelets in broad human disorders such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. This article reviews the historical progression of these applied technologies to analyze platelet function, and demonstrates how these approaches can be systematically developed to provide new insights into platelet biomarker discovery.

Platelet systems biology using integrated genetic and proteomic platforms

Platelets retain megakaryocyte-derived mRNA, an abundant and diverse array of miRNAs, and have evolved unique adaptive signals for maintenance of genetic and protein diversity. Quiescent platelets generally display minimal translational activity, although maximally-activated platelets retain the capacity for protein synthesis. Progressive data using multiple platelet activation models clearly demonstrate that platelet responses to the majority (if not all) agonists are highly variable within the population, demonstrating considerable heritability in siblings, twins, and families with premature coronary artery disease. Research from our laboratory has adapted global profiling strategies to close the knowledge gap currently existing between genetic variability and platelet phenotypic responsiveness. We have applied iterative algorithms for genetic biomarker discovery and class prediction models of platelet phenotypes, with the goal of systematically analyzing integrated mRNA/miRNA/proteomic datasets for identification of regulatory networks that define phenotypic variability in platelet responses. This approach has the potential to define platelet genetic biomarkers predictive of thrombohemorrhagic outcomes in both normal and widely disparate clinical conditions.