Thrombomodulin, an endothelial anticoagulant; its structure, function and expression.
Thrombomodulin is an endothelium-associated glycoprotein that converts thrombin from a procoagulant protease to an anticoagulant. Thrombin, a key enzyme in thrombus formation, binds to thrombomodulin on the endothelium. However after thrombin binds to thrombomodulin, it fails to act on the coagulation factors and platelets, and its ability to activate protein C is enhanced more than 1,000-fold. This article reviews the recent progress in the study of thrombomodulin.
Maruyama
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IIIrd Department of Internal Medicine, Kogashima University, School of Medicine, Japan.
D001777:Blood Coagulation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin; D013917:Thrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism
D011486:Protein C; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018179:Receptors, Thrombin; D013917:Thrombin