Semin Thromb Hemost 2006; 32(1): 033-039
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-933338
Copyright © 2006 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Tissue Factor in Infection and Severe Inflammation

Marcel Levi1 , Tom van der Poll1 , 2 , Hugo ten Cate3
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
  • 2Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 February 2006 (online)

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ABSTRACT

In the pathogenesis of vascular disease, inflammation and coagulation play a pivotal role. Increasing evidence points to an extensive cross-talk between these two systems, whereby inflammation not only leads to activation of coagulation, but coagulation also considerably affects inflammatory activity. Tissue factor (TF) plays an important role at the crossroad of coagulation and inflammation, as the principal initiator of coagulation and an important modulator of inflammation. Proinflammatory cytokines can induce TF expression on mononuclear cells and endothelial cells and thereby commence pathways that lead to thrombin generation. Simultaneously, TF may bind to cellular receptors, which may affect the production and release of inflammatory mediators. There is increasing experimental evidence that TF inhibition may have beneficial effects in disease states in which the combination of coagulation and inflammation plays a prominent role.