Scientists are fully aware of the growing incidence that heart diseases have among the general population, and are therefore taking steps to address the issue. One such measure is a series of studies conducted by researchers in Japan, which shows that analyzing snake venom may provide the necessary clues towards developing a host of new therapies for a series of heart conditions, as well as for cancer. The finding came as a surprise to the scientific community, e! Science News reports.

[ADMARK=`]“The finding that platelets [certain blood cells] not only play a role in blood clotting but also in the development of vessels that allow tumors to flourish was quite unexpected and paves the way for new research on the role or roles of platelets,” explains University of Yamanashi associate professor Katsue Suzuki-Inoue. He was the supervisor of a team of 13 experts, who collaborated on this investigation in the lab of professor Yukio Ozaki. The group details its findings in the latest issue of the esteemed scientific Journal of Biological Chemistry.

One of the most important findings is the knowledge that inhibiting a certain protein, usually found on the surface of platelets, may have an overall beneficial health effect. One of the diseases prevented by the lack of this protein is irregular blood clotting, but, surprisingly, the Japanese crew discovered that no CLEC-2 protein also equaled a lower incidence of cancer spread throughout the body. “When a blood clot, or thrombus, forms during the body's normal repair process, it's doing its job. But, thrombotic diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, are leading causes of death in developed countries. Understanding and manipulating the underlying chemical reactions could help us save many lives,” says Suzuki-Inoue.

“Snake venom contains a vast number of toxins that target proteins in platelets. Some of those toxins prevent platelets from clotting, which can lead to profuse bleeding in snake bite victims. Others, like the one we've focused this research on, potently activate platelets, which results in blood clots. Identification of the molecular targets of many of these toxins has made an enormous contribution to our understanding of platelet activation and related diseases,” Kogakuin University associate professor Yonchol Shin concludes.