[In vitro tissue factor production by human endothelial cells put in contact with polyethylene terephthalate with different texture].

The aim of this study is the evaluation of the in vitro tissue factor production by endothelial cells cultured in the presence of Woven or Knitted Dacron. The spectrophotometric evaluation of the protein content of the cultures and the both indirect assay and enzyme immune assay of tissue factor in cellular lysates were carried out after 72 hour contact between the cells and the materials under examination. The endothelial cell contact with Knitted Dacron did not determine variation in protein content, but it induced a significant increase in tissue factor production. The endothelial cell contact with Woven Dacron determined no significant variations neither in the protein content nor in the tissue factor concentration. It is concluded that Knitted Dacron, through the induction of tissue factor synthesis, can favour the extrinsic pathway of coagulation and therefore the production of thrombi. Woven Dacron, not inducing tissue factor formation, does not activate the extrinsic pathway of coagulation, as for the mechanism considered.