Abstract
The important role of platelets in the development of arterial thrombosis and cardiovascular disease is well established. Current treatments for arterial thrombosis include anti-platelet agents such as aspirin, thienopyridines and glycoprotein IIb-IIIa inhibitors. Despite these drugs being effective there remains a substantial unmet clinical demand for more effective therapeutic approaches, which may reflect the existence of alternative underlying regulatory mechanisms to those already targeted. Recent publications have demonstrated a key role for tachykinins in the positive feedback regulation of platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. The pro-thrombotic effects of tachykinins on platelets are mediated through the neurokinin 1 receptor, which may therefore offer a novel therapeutic drug target in the prevention and the treatment of arterial thrombosis. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 114-119 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Current opinion in pharmacology |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2008 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Blood Platelets/drug effects/metabolism
- Drug Delivery Systems
- Humans
- Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/*pharmacology
- Receptors, Neurokinin-1/*drug effects/metabolism
- Tachykinins/drug effects/metabolism
- Thrombosis/*drug therapy/physiopathology