Platelets are increasingly recognized as important immune effector cells in addition to their role in thrombosis. During the period of this award Dr. Middleton will employ both animal models and human subjects enrolled from our ICU to investigate the regulation of FcYRIIA expression in megakaryocytes and the transport of this mRNA and protein to platelet. This target is interesting as it is involved in both thrombosis and inflammation as it is an important immune receptor and the only FcY receptor expressed on platelets. The goal is to identify how this receptor is involved and alters the platelet function and how that may relate to clinical outcomes in infection.