title: Zinc: an important cofactor in haemostasis and thrombosis.
abstract: There is mounting evidence that zinc, the second most abundant transition metal in blood, is an important mediator of haemostasis and thrombosis. Prompted by the observation that zinc deficiency is associated with bleeding and clotting abnormalities, there now is evidence that zinc serves as an effector of coagulation, anticoagulation and fibrinolysis. Zinc binds numerous plasma proteins and modulates their structure and function. Because activated platelets secrete zinc into the local microenvironment, the concentration of zinc increases in the vicinity of a thrombus. Consequently, the role of zinc varies depending on the microenvironment; a feature that endows zinc with the capacity to spatially and temporally regulate haemostasis and thrombosis. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which zinc regulates coagulation, platelet aggregation, anticoagulation and fibrinolysis and outlines how zinc serves as a ubiquitous modulator of haemostasis and thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Department of Medical Sciences, McMaster University, 237 Barton St. E., Hamilton, Ontario L8L 2X2, Canada.
authors.forename: Trang T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Vu
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fredenburgh
authors.forename: Jeffrey I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Weitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000838:Anions / Q000378:metabolism; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015942:Factor VIIa / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D005342:Fibrinolysis; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006493:Heparin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D011486:Protein C / Q000378:metabolism; D017293:Protein S / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015032:Zinc / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D000925:Anticoagulants; D011486:Protein C; D017293:Protein S; D006493:Heparin; D015942:Factor VIIa; D015032:Zinc