Inhibit the calpain to climb the mountain

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Tyagi et al shed some light on the mechanism of thrombosis induced by a high altitude, hypoxic environment. Using proteomic analysis of platelets and in vivo models of thrombosis, the authors elegantly demonstrated that enhanced calpain activity, regulated by CAPNS1, significantly contributes to platelet reactivity and thrombosis under hypoxic conditions. The observations from animal models were further supported by human data showing increased calpain activity and elevation in markers of platelet activation in the plasma of patients who developed deep vein thrombosis at high altitude.