Kathleen Freson: αIIbβ3’s Hidden Role in Platelet Production
Kathleen Freson, Professor at KU Leuven, Chair of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), shared a post on LinkedIn about a recent article, she and her colleagues co-authord, published in Blood Journal, adding:
“Excited to share our latest publication in Blood, American Society of Hematology !
Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) has traditionally been viewed as a disorder of platelet function caused by defects in integrin αIIbβ3.
Our findings add to growing evidence that the story is more complex.
We show that αIIbβ3 deficiency is associated with impaired platelet production, driven in part by altered serine metabolism in megakaryocytes.
These results help explain the observation that several GT and all GT-like patients have low platelet counts, suggesting that αIIbβ3 is not only essential for platelet function but also plays an important role in platelet biogenesis.
This work provides new insights into the mechanisms regulating thrombopoiesis and highlights an unexpected link between integrin signaling, cellular metabolism, and platelet production.
Many thanks to all co-authors and collaborators who contributed to this study.
And especially congrats to Kato Ramaekers as this is mainly her PhD work !”
Title: Reduced platelet formation associated with serine metabolic dysregulation in integrin αIIbβ3-deficient megakaryocytes
Authors: Kato Ramaekers,My Tran,Marco Lunghi,Amy Hermans,Chantal Thys,Koenraad De Wispelaere,Ernest Turro,Christel Van Geet Van Geet, Quentin Van Thillo,Kathelijne Peerlinck,Koji Eto,Alan T. Nurden,Alessandra Balduini,Christian Andrea Di Buduo,Veerle Labarque,Kathleen Freson

Other articles featuring Kathleen Freson on Hemostasis Today.
-
Oct 21, 2026, 10:33Karen Schreiber: Beyond Clinical Outcomes – The Voices of Women with APS
-
Oct 21, 2026, 10:11Tau Braun: Clots Through the Copper-Zinc Model
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:55Cristina Figueroa Villalba: Celebrating Excellence in Transfusion Medicine
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:43Ahmad Gharehbaghian: How Can Blood Supplies Be Sustained During a Crisis?
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:30Adrián Dante De Angelis: Research That Opens New Possibilities for Recurrent iTTP
-
Oct 21, 2026, 09:13Jarod Horobin: Blood 2026 – Connecting Science and People
-
Oct 21, 2026, 08:35Raeeda Gheewala: VTE in Athletes – Risks Beyond the Playing Field
-
Oct 21, 2026, 08:29Andreas Kronbichler: The Changing Landscape of CV Risk in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
-
Oct 21, 2026, 08:21Pham Quy: Taking Stroke Awareness Beyond Hospitals and Into the Community