Extracellular RNA constitutes a natural procoagulant cofactor in blood coagulation.

ABSTRACT: Upon vascular injury, locally controlled haemostasis prevents life-threatening blood loss and ensures wound healing. Intracellular material derived from damaged cells at these sites will become exposed to blood components and could contribute to blood coagulation and pathological thrombus formation. So far, the functional and mechanistic consequences of this concept are not understood. Here, we present in vivo and in vitro evidence that different forms of eukaryotic and prokaryotic RNA serve as promoters of blood coagulation. Extracellular RNA was found to augment (auto-)activation of proteases of the contact phase pathway of blood coagulation such as factors XII and XI, both exhibiting strong RNA binding. Moreover, administration of exogenous RNA provoked a significant procoagulant respon

SUBMITTER: Kannemeier C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1851071 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature