Paul K Jurasz

Adjunct Professor

Education:
BSc, Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 1998
PhD, Pharmacology, University of Alberta, 2002

Teaching:

Research: Pharmacology of Platelet-derived Angiogenesis Regulators

Research Interests / Laboratory Techniques

Platelets are blood cells physiologically known for maintaining hemostasis and pathologically for forming thrombi that occlude arteries, which can result in heart attack and ischemic stroke. Although much is known about the molecular mechanisms that both stimulate and inhibit platelet function, little is known about platelet heterogeneity and whether biochemically distinct platelet subpopulations exist that regulate hemostasis/ thrombobosis. Recently, we demonstrated a highly novel aspect of platelet biology, identifying platelet subpopulatons based on the presence or absence of an endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signalling pathway with a differential ability to initiate and limit platelet function. Currently, we are investigating the pharmacological regulation of these platelet subpopulations in an attempt to develop more effective anti-platelet drugs to prevent heart attacks and stroke.

In addition, platelets play important roles in cancer metastasis and in the regulation of angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth). During hematogenous metastasis invading cancer cells then intravasate into the circulation where they must withstand the shear forces of flowing blood and evade immune cells. At this step they are aided by their interactions with platelets, with which they form tumor-platelet aggregates/emboli. This process, known as tumor cell-induced platelet aggregation (TCIPA), offers several advantages to metastatizing cancer cells. In my laboratory we study the pharmacological regulation of TCIPA and the reciprocal interactions between cancer cell subpopulations and platelets.

Finally, Platelets contain and generate abundant pro- and anti-angiogenic mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor and angiostatin, which upon release from platelets granules help regulate new blood vessel growth. Consequently, we are exploring how these platelet-derived angiogenesis mediators influence endothelial cell growth, migration, and the ability to form capillaries in an attempt to inhibit growth of blood vessels to tumors and to promote therapeutic blood vessel growth for cardiovascular disease.

Selected Recent Publications

  1. Asgari A, Franczak A, Herchen A, Jickling GC, Jurasz P. Elevated levels of pro-thrombotic eNOS-negative platelets in COVID-19 patients. Thromb Res. 2024 Dec;244:109178.
    doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2024.109178
    PMID: 39369655

  2. Asgari A, Jurasz P. Role of Nitric Oxide in Megakaryocyte Function. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 2;24(9):8145.
    doi: 10.3390/ijms24098145.
    PMID: 37175857 

  3. Back V, Asgari A, Franczak A, Saito M, Castaneda Zaragoza D, Sandow SL, Plane F, Jurasz P. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by activation of platelet intermediate conductance Ca2+ -activated potassium channels. J Thromb Haemost. 2022 Nov;20(11):2587-2600.
    doi: 10.1111/jth.15827
    PMID: 35867883

  4. Jurasz P, Ignjatovic V, Lordkipanidzé M. Editorial: Established and Novel Roles of Platelets in Health and Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Jan 31;9:835615.
    doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.835615
    PMID: 35174235 

  5. Rudzinski JK, Govindasamy NP, Asgari A, Saito MS, Lewis JD, Jurasz P. Preferential interaction of platelets with prostate cancer cells with stem cell markers. Thromb Res. 2021 Oct;206:42-51.
    doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2021.08.008
    PMID: 34403851

  6. Asgari A, Lesyk G, Poitras E, Govindasamy N, Terry K, To R, Back V, Rudzinski JK, Lewis JD, Jurasz P. Platelets stimulate programmed death-ligand 1 expression by cancer cells: Inhibition by anti-platelet drugs. J Thromb Haemost. 2021 Nov;19(11):2862-2872.
    doi: 10.1111/jth.15478
    PMID: 34333838

  7. Rudzinski JK, Govindasamy NP, Lewis JD, Jurasz P. The role of the androgen receptor in prostate cancer-induced platelet aggregation and platelet-induced invasion. J Thromb Haemost. 2020 Nov;18(11):2976-2986.
    doi: 10.1111/jth.15020
    PMID: 32692888

  8. Lesyk G, Jurasz P. Advances in Platelet Subpopulation Research. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2019 Sep 13;6:138.
    doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00138.
    PMID: 31572733