Molecular and Cellular Biology of Platelet Formation

P.D. Dr. Harald Schulze, studied biochemistry at the University of Hannover and at the Hannover Medical Faculty. As PostDoctoral Assistant at the Dana-Farber Cancer Insitute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA, he performed research on megakaryocytes and platelet biogenesis. Since 2005 Harald Schulze is Group leader and Head of the Laboratory for Pediatric Molecular Biology, Charité in Berlin. His group studies the basic mechanisms of platelet production from megakaryocytes. Another focus of the laboratory lies in the analysis of the rare congenital disorder, the TAR syndrome, which is based on a defective mechanism in hematopoiesis. Dr. Joseph E. Italiano Jr. received his PhD from Florida State University and trained as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Division of Hematology at Brigham and Women's Hospital from 1998-2000. He is currently Associate Professor of Medicine with appointments in the Division of Hematology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Vascular Biology Program at Children's Hospital Boston, and Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on how megakaryocytes produce platelets and how platelets regulate new blood vessel growth.

I. Thrombopoiesis 1. A short history of the platelet (N.N.).- 2. Megakaryopoiesis and Platelet biogenesis (Italiano).- 3. Transcription factors in MKs and platelets (Cantor / Tijssen & Ghavaert).- 4. Platelet biogenesis in vivo and the Vascular Niche (Schulze). II. Platelet biology.- 5. Platelet contents (Hartwig).- 6. Platelet signal transduction (Yonis / S. Watson).- 7. Thrombosis (Bergmeier).- 8. Platelets and coagulation (N.N.).- 9. The platelet life span (Kile). III. Animal models 10. Platelets in mice and men (N.N).- 11. Animal models for platelet function (Nieswandt).- 12. Other animal models /zebrafish (N.N.). IV. Platelets in Health and Disease.- 13. Platelet parameters and function testing in the clinic (Schulze / Dame).- 14. Atherothrombosis and Coronary Artery Disease (Nieswandt).- 15. Thrombocytopenias and Thrombocytopathies (Ballmaier).- 16. Platelets in myeloproliferative disorders and leukemia (N.N.).- 17. Platelet Apheresis and Transfusions (N.N).- 18. Platelet Biogenesis following Stem Cell Transplantation (N.N).

"This book is true to its title, detailing the current state of research in the molecular and cellular biology of platelet formation. ... the book would be of interest to anyone interested in platelet biogenesis -- from basic science and translational science researchers, to practicing clinicians ... . It's a great read for anyone interested in what's happening in platelet research. I enjoyed reading this book and being brought up to speed with what's happening in platelet research today." (Valerie L. Ng, Doody's Book Reviews, May, 2017)