Spatial distribution of factor Xa, thrombin, and fibrin(ogen) on thrombi at venous shear.
BACKGROUND
The generation of thrombin is a critical process in the formation of venous thrombi. In isolated plasma under static conditions, phosphatidylserine (PS)-exposing platelets support coagulation factor activation and thrombin generation; however, their role in supporting coagulation factor binding under shear conditions remains unclear. We sought to determine where activated factor X (FXa), (pro)thrombin, and fibrin(ogen) are localized in thrombi formed under venous shear.


RESULTS
Fluorescence microscopy was used to study the accumulation of platelets, FXa, (pro)thrombin, and fibrin(ogen) in thrombi formed in vitro and in vivo. Co-perfusion of human blood with tissue factor resulted in formation of visible fibrin at low, but not at high shear rate. At low shear, platelets demonstrated increased Ca(2+) signaling and PS exposure, and supported binding of FXa and prothrombin. However, once cleaved, (pro)thrombin was observed on fibrin fibers, covering the whole thrombus. In vivo, wild-type mice were injected with fluorescently labeled coagulation factors and venous thrombus formation was monitored in mesenteric veins treated with FeCl(3). Thrombi formed in vivo consisted of platelet aggregates, focal spots of platelets binding FXa, and large areas binding (pro)thrombin and fibrin(ogen).


CONCLUSIONS
FXa bound in a punctate manner to thrombi under shear, while thrombin and fibrin(ogen) distributed ubiquitously over platelet-fibrin thrombi. During thrombus formation under venous shear, thrombin may relocate from focal sites of formation (on FXa-binding platelets) to dispersed sites of action (on fibrin fibers).
Berny
Michelle A
MA
Department of Biochemistry, CARIM, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Munnix
Imke C A
IC
Auger
Jocelyn M
JM
Schols
Saskia E M
SE
Cosemans
Judith M E M
JM
Panizzi
Peter
P
Bock
Paul E
PE
Watson
Steve P
SP
McCarty
Owen J T
OJ
Heemskerk
Johan W M
JW
D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D015951:Factor Xa / Q000032:analysis*; D005337:Fibrin / Q000032:analysis*; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010477:Perfusion; D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011485:Protein Binding; D013917:Thrombin / Q000032:analysis*; D013925:Thromboplastin; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology*
D010718:Phosphatidylserines; D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D013925:Thromboplastin; D013917:Thrombin; D015951:Factor Xa
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