Platelet-associated tissue factor contributes to the collagen-triggered activation of blood coagulation

The extravascular localization of tissue factor (TF), the central initiator of coagulation, is thought to ensure that thrombus formation is prevented in the intact vessel. We observed that during a 5-min stimulation of human blood with collagen (type I), TF antigen appeared on the surface of platele ts adhering to leukocytes. The rapidly presented intravascular TF was compe tent to start the coagulation cascade. The isolated platelets from healthy donors contained appreciable amounts of the TF protein, while no TF antigen was detected in the neutrophils and rapidly isolated monocytes, Direct int eractions with the neutrophils and monocytes were apparently necessary to a ctivate the platelet-associated TF. This was most likely mediated by inacti vation of tissue factor pathway inhibitor through leukocyte elastase, In su mmary, the leukocyte-elicited activation of the platelet TF participates in the rapid initiation of coagulation by collagen. (C) 2001 Academic Press.