Mechanisms of anticoagulant and cytoprotective actions of the protein C pathway.

ABSTRACT: The protein C pathway provides multiple important functions to maintain a regulated balance between hemostasis and host defense systems in response to vascular and inflammatory injury. The anticoagulant protein C pathway is designed to regulate coagulation, maintain the fluidity of blood within the vasculature, and prevent thrombosis, whereas the cytoprotective protein C pathway prevents vascular damage and stress. The cytoprotective activities of activated protein C (APC) include anti-apoptotic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, beneficial alterations of gene expression profiles, and endothelial barrier stabilization. These cytoprotective activities of APC, which require the endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) and protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1), have been a major research focus

SUBMITTER: Bouwens EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3713536 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature