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(Chest. 2003;124:33S-39S.)
© 2003 American College of Chest Physicians

Thrombin and Fibrinolysis*

Michael Nesheim, PhD

* From the Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada.

Correspondence to: Michael Nesheim, PhD, Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Botterell Hall, Room A210, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7L 3N6; e-mail: nesheimm{at}post.queensu.ca

When the activities of the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades are properly regulated, so that fibrin (FN) deposition and removal are properly balanced, the vascular system is protected from catastrophic blood loss at the site of an injury, while its fluidity is ensured elsewhere. When these activities are not properly regulated, however, the organism is subjected to either excessive bleeding or thrombosis. Thrombomodulin on the endothelial cell is very important in this regulation because it converts thrombin to an anticoagulant enzyme by directing it toward the activation of protein C. It also converts thrombin to an antifibrinolytic enzyme by directing it toward the activation of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI). By doing so, it creates a direct molecular connection between the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades, such that activation of the former suppresses the activity of the latter. Recent studies indicate that the TAFI pathway functions in vivo and is likely relevant in maintaining the proper balance between FN deposition and removal. Whether it will be a target for pharmaceutical manipulation of this balance remains to be determined.

Key Words: bleeding • coagulation • fibrinolysis • plasmin • thrombin • thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor • thrombomodulin • thrombosis




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