Work

Activated protein C correlates inversely with thrombin levels in resting healthy individuals

Year: 1997

Type: article

Abstract: To study whether the circulating anticoagulant, activated protein C (APC), could be a regulator of thrombin activity in basal physiological conditions, fibrinopeptide A and activated protein C levels were determined in samples from 40 healthy individuals. There was a significant inverse correlation between the fibrinopeptide A and APC levels (Spearman rank correlation R = -0.487; P = 0.0023). Because of well-known mechanisms by which decreasing APC levels could cause increased thrombin formation, we suggest that APC may downregulate thrombin activity in subjects with normal protein C levels. Regulation of thrombin formation in health is likely significant for maintaining vascular patency but its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. The current data suggest that a single physiological anticoagulant, namely APC, may be a significant regulator of procoagulant thrombin activity.

Source: American Journal of Hematology

DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8652(199709)56:1<29::aid-ajh6>3.0.co;2-4

Authors: José A. Fernández, Jari Petäjä, András Gruber, John H. Griffin

Institution: Scripps Research Institute

Language: English

Topic: Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis Mechanisms

Subfield: Hematology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute