Thrombomodulin/activated protein C system in septic disseminated intravascular coagulation.

ABSTRACT: The thrombomodulin (TM)/activated protein C (APC) system plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of thrombosis and hemostasis and maintaining vascular integrity in vivo. TM expressed on vascular endothelium binds to thrombin, forming a 1:1 complex and acts as an anticoagulant. In addition, the thrombin-TM complex activates protein C to produce APC, which inactivates factors VIIIa and Va in the presence of protein S, thereby inhibiting further thrombin formation. Intriguingly, APC possesses anti-inflammatory as well as cytoprotective activities. Moreover, the extracellular domain of TM also possesses APC-independent anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective activities. Of note, the TM/APC system is compromised in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) caused by sepsis due to

SUBMITTER: Ikezoe T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4336127 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature