The biosynthesis of thrombomodulin and its enhancement by dibutyryl cAMP in a human megakaryoblastic cell line, UT-7.

Thrombomodulin (TM) is an endothelial cell membrane glycoprotein which modulates coagulation via the formation of thrombin-TM complexes. We investigated the human megakaryoblastic cell line (UT-7) for the presence of functional TM on the cell surface and in cell lysates using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, a functional assay, and analysis by fluorescent activated cell sorter. We also examined the effect of cyclic nucleotides on TM in UT-7 cells. Quiescent UT-7 cells contained TM protein in cell lysates, but no TM antigen was observed on the cell surface. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP up-regulated TM: UT-7 cells transiently expressed functional TM antigen on the cell surface via de novo synthesis of TM protein resulting from increased TM mRNA levels. In contrast, dibutyryl cyclic GMP did not significantly affect TM antigen levels. The results suggest that megakaryocytes produce TM antigen and protein kinase A are involved in cellular mechanisms of TM expression.