Atherothrombosis research
Our research aims to elucidate platelet engagements, apart from thrombosis and haemostasis, in inflammatory and angiogenic/vessel remodeling mechanisms in atherosclerosis, and eventually to develop novel antiplatelet agents targeting platelet inflammatory/angiogenic activities for atherothrombotic disease treatments.
We are interested in how platelets regulate immune responses of CD4+ T cells and how platelet-regulated CD4+ T effector cell responses impact atherosclerotic development. Hence, by combining in vitro experiments with human cells, in vivo animal models, and high throughput omics analyses, we study how platelet-derived mediators, namely transforming growth factor b (TGFb) and platelet factor 4 (PF4), regulate CD4+ T cell activation and metabolism, phenotype development, effector cell function, and subsequently atherosclerotic lesion development.
We are also interested in the mechanisms governing differential storage and release of pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors of platelets, and how platelet distinct release of angiogenic factors influence angiogenesis. The work has expanded our research into how platelet-derived angiogenic factors regulated tumor microenvironment and cancer progression.