Activated protein C correlates inversely with thrombin levels in resting healthy individuals

José A. Fernández, Jari Petäjä, András Gruber, John H. Griffin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

To study whether the circulating anticoagulant, activated protein C (APC), could be a regulator of thrombin activity in basal physiological conditions, fibrinopeptide A and activated protein C levels were determined in samples from 40 healthy individuals. There was a significant inverse correlation between the fibrinopeptide A and APC levels (Spearman rank correlation R = -0.487; P = 0.0023). Because of well-known mechanisms by which decreasing APC levels could cause increased thrombin formation, we suggest that APC may downregulate thrombin activity in subjects with normal protein C levels. Regulation of thrombin formation in health is likely significant for maintaining vascular patency but its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. The current data suggest that a single physiological anticoagulant, namely APC, may be a significant regulator of procoagulant thrombin activity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)29-31
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Journal of Hematology
Volume56
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1997
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anticoagulants
  • Fibrinopeptide A
  • Protein C
  • Thrombin
  • Venous thrombosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Hematology

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