title: Tissue factor pathway inhibitor: structure, biology and involvement in disease.
abstract: Tissue factor (TF)-initiated coagulation plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of many diseases, including cancer and inflammation. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a plasma Kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor, which modulates initiations of coagulation induced by TF. In a factor (F) Xa-dependent feedback system, TFPI binds directly and inhibits the TF-FVII/FVIIa complex. Normally, TFPI exists in plasma both as a full-length molecule and as variably carboxy-terminal truncated forms. TFPI also circulates in complex with plasma lipoproteins. The levels and the dual inhibitor effect of TFPI on FXa and TF-FVII/FVIIa complex offers insight into the mechanisms of various pathological conditions triggered by TF. The use of selective pharmacological inhibitors has become an indispensable tool in experimental haemostasis and thrombosis research. In vivo administration of recombinant TFPI (rTFPI) in an experimental animal model prevents thrombosis (and re-thrombosis after thrombolysis), reduces mortality from E. coli-induced-septic shock, prevents fibrin deposition on subendothelial human matrix and protects against disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Thus, TFPI may play an important role in modulating TF-induced thrombogenesis and it may also provide a unique therapeutic approach for prophylaxis and/or treatment of various diseases. In this review, we consider structural and biochemical aspects of the TFPI molecule and detail its inhibitory mechanisms and therapeutic implications in various disease conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. bashir@soton.ac.uk
authors.forename: Bashir A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Lwaleed
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Bass
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008833:Microcirculation; D023421:Models, Animal; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D008074:Lipoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C051928:lipoprotein-associated coagulation inhibitor