Fibrin induction of tissue factor expression in human vascular endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND

For the present study, we hypothesized that fibrin is an inducer of tissue factor (TF) expression in vascular endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To test the in vitro aspect of this hypothesis, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cocultured with physiologically relevant concentrations of fibrin (0.03 to 1.0 mg fibrin/mL) for various times (0.5 to 24 hours), and TF expression was compared with that in unstimulated HUVECs (media control). Results demonstrated that fibrin induced a time- and dose-dependent increase in TF antigen expression, functional TF procoagulant activity, and TF mRNA in HUVECs.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies demonstrate that fibrin can directly regulate TF expression in HUVECs in vitro.