Title: Platelet-hyaluronan interactions as regulators of inflammation and thrombosis Key Words: Platelets, hyaluronan, inflammation, thrombosis, Hyaluronidase-2 The Candidate is a postdoctoral fellow and young investigator dedicated to developing an academic career focused on investigating the intersection of inflammation and thrombosis through an extracellular matrix lens as an underlying mechanism in chronic inflammatory disease. With a strong background in extracellular matrix biology, and biochemistry, the candidate has developed new expertise in mechanistic platelet biology and the use of mouse models to conduct the proposed studies. The Career Development Plan described in the proposal outlines 2 years of mentored training including technical skill training and career development activities to promote the successful transition to independence and future funding. The candidate's Mentor and Co-Mentor have proven track-records of excellent, translational research productivity and successful mentorship. Research Plan: Platelets are specialized cells essential for hemostasis that also function as crucial effectors capable of modulating inflammatory and immune responses. These innate immune sensors continually survey their environment and discriminate between homeostatic and danger signals. Components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) are detected by platelets as `damage associated-molecular patterns' (DAMPS) and can elicit pro- inflammatory responses. One such ECM component, the glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan (HA), acquires a unique `cable-like' structure in response to inflammation. Our lab has shown that: (1) HA cable formation precedes inflammatory cell infiltration, (2) HA cables produced by the endothelium recruit leukocytes, (3) Hyal-2 is required for platelet biogenesis, and (4) the platelet-derived enzyme Hyal-2 degrades HA cables. Our preliminary observations show that mice with systemic Hyal-2 deficiency display increased inflammation and disease severity in a murine model of colitis. Importantly, these findings are significantly reduced by transfusion of wild- type platelets. We believe that these results translate an entirely new mechanism by which platelet-HA interactions regulate inflammation and will provide new insights into inflammatory pathways generalizable to other inflammatory diseases. Based on our preliminary data we propose the overarching hypothesis that: Dysregulation of vascular HA due to platelet Hyal-2 deficiency promotes inflammation and thrombosis. We will evaluate the mechanism(s) by which platelet-hyaluronan interactions regulate inflammation, thrombosis, and the underlying mechanism in which inflammation can alter megakaryocyte development and platelet biogenesis by using a unique resource of patient-derived specimens and mouse models of inflammation. This application builds on robust preliminary data, a personal track record of productive research, an extremely supportive environment, an advisory panel with national recognition for their expertise in inflammation, thrombosis, and translational research, and a fully committed department. Together these elements will support and facilitate the training and advancement of the PI to a successful career of independent biomedical research.
Platelets have emerged as effector cells capable of mediating inflammation either directly or through interactions with other immune cells or the vasculature. Platelet dysfunction correlates with disease severity in many inflammatory disorders including cardiovascular disease, sepsis, atherosclerosis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The research proposed is highly relevant to public health as the mechanisms through which platelets regulate inflammation and inflammation-associated thrombosis are not well understood. We will study the cues that are responsible for these defects and their outcome, which are relevant to the NHLBI's mission to promote the prevention and treatment of diseases to enhance human life and wellness.
