Background of the antigen
Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is a membrane glycoprotein receptor for collagen found in platelets. GPVI plays an important role in platelet procoagulant activity which may contribute to arterial and venous thrombus formation. GPVI is expressed in megakaryocytes and platelets. Patients deficient in GPVI suffer from mild hemorrhagic diathesis and their platelets fail to aggregate in response to collagen. There are three isoforms.