The main theme of this yearís session was platelet signaling and signal transduction defects. This was a continuation of the discussions initiated at the last SSC meeting in Maastricht. Drs. Deborah French and Dermott Kenny presented the reports on the existing databases on Glanzmann thrombasthenia and Bernard Soulier Syndrome (BSS), respectively. Both of the databases are running effectively. Dr. French indicated that all of the submissions were patients published in the literature. Dr. Kenny reported that the BSS web site had 1386 visitors so far. Dr. French agreed to update and incorporate a classification of thrombasthenia on the web site. Dr. Steve Watson discussed the ongoing efforts for establishing a database that covers platelet signaling and signal transduction defects. The main stumbling block is the need for financial support for setting up the database and this is still unresolved.

Several speakers reviewed the current information available with respect to different aspects of platelet signaling and information from specific knockout models and human platelet defects. Dr. John Hartwig reviewed aspects related to signaling and shape change. Dr. Guy Reed reviewed signaling mechanisms governing platelet secretion. At the receptor level, Dr. Athan Kuliopulos provided information on platelet thrombin receptors. Dr. Lawrence Brass described studies in mouse knock out models of Gµ i family, including Gµ Z. Dr. Jean-Max Pasquet reviewed the signaling pathways involving tyrosine kinase/phosphatase pathways. Dr. Hidehiko Saito presented recently described mutations in non-muscle myosin heavy chain A in patients with May-Hegglin anomaly. Lastly, Dr. A. Koneti Rao summarized recent studies in patients with phospholipase C-b2 and Gaq deficiency with respect to thrombin-induced responses.

At the end of the meeting there was a discussion regarding the potential topics for the next meeting of the SSC in Boston in 2002. In addition, there were discussions regarding the working group on platelet signal transduction defects and about the areas that it should address. These were extensive discussions on the need for developing guidelines on specific methods widely used to study platelets. The specific areas that were included: 1) preparation of human platelets for studies, 2) preparation of mouse platelets, 3) platelet aggregation, 4) shape change, 5) flow cytometry, and 6) adhesion. In addition it was felt that a working party on platelet signal transduction defects should address the issues regarding the laboratory evaluation of patients with platelet function defects. Dr. James Bussell announced to the Platelet Subcommittee regarding a registry being established on patients with non-immune thrombocytopenia to facilitate studies on the molecular basis of the platelet abnormality.