| Background: | | The thromboxane A2 receptor (TBXA2R) is a member of the Prostanoid Receptor subfamily. TBXA2R performs an essential role in hemostasis by interacting with thromboxane A2 to induce platelet aggregation. Thromboxane A2 has been implicated in myocardial infarct, stroke, and asthma. Additionally, thromboxane-prostanoid receptors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Changes in TBXA2R function have also been linked to a hereditary bleeding disorder. The thromboxane A2 receptor is encoded by a single gene that is alternatively spliced at the carboxyl terminus, resulting in two variants, TP (343 residues) and TP (407 residues) that share the first 328 amino acids. TBXA2R expression has been documented in blood, brain, eye, kidney, nose, placenta, uterus, and vessel. ESTs have been isolated from brain, kidney, placenta, and thymus libraries. |