Platelets are central to the process of wound healing.
But overly responsive platelets could block normal blood flow, particularly where atherosclerosis exists, resulting in stroke, myocardial infarction and unstable angina. This receptor is the target of efficacious antithrombotic agents such as ticlopidine and clopidrogel. The cloning of the P2Y 12 receptor should thus facilitate the development of even better agents to treat cardiovascular disease.