Thrombin and vascular inflammation

Vascular endothelium is a key regulator of homeostasis. In physiological conditions it mediates vascular dilatation, prevents platelet adhesion, and inhibits thrombin generation. However, endothelial dysfunction caused by physical injury of the vascular wall, for example during balloon angioplasty,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular and cellular biochemistry 2012, Vol.359 (1-2), p.301-313
Main Authors: Popović, Milan, Smiljanić, Katarina, Dobutović, Branislava, Syrovets, Tatiana, Simmet, Thomas, Isenović, Esma R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atherosclerosis
Biochemistry
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cardiology
Endothelium, Vascular - pathology
Fibrin
Humans
Inflammation
Inflammation - etiology
Life Sciences
Medical Biochemistry
Oncology
Physiological aspects
Thrombin
Thrombin - physiology
Vascular Diseases - pathology
Vascular endothelial growth factor
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Summary:Vascular endothelium is a key regulator of homeostasis. In physiological conditions it mediates vascular dilatation, prevents platelet adhesion, and inhibits thrombin generation. However, endothelial dysfunction caused by physical injury of the vascular wall, for example during balloon angioplasty, acute or chronic inflammation, such as in atherothrombosis, creates a proinflammatory environment which supports leukocyte transmigration toward inflammatory sites. At the same time, the dysfunction promotes thrombin generation, fibrin deposition, and coagulation. The serine protease thrombin plays a pivotal role in the coagulation cascade. However, thrombin is not only the key effector of coagulation cascade; it also plays a significant role in inflammatory diseases. It shows an array of effects on endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, monocytes, and platelets, all of which participate in the vascular pathophysiology such as atherothrombosis. Therefore, thrombin can be considered as an important modulatory molecule of vascular homeostasis. This review summarizes the existing evidence on the role of thrombin in vascular inflammation.
ISSN:0300-8177
1573-4919
DOI:10.1007/s11010-011-1024-x