Genetic interactions between the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems

Nearly all of the genes encoding the established coagulation and fibrinolyt ic factors have been successfully altered or disrupted in transgenic mice. Although comprehensive studies of each of these gene-targeted mouse lines a re still ongoing, the initial findings have significantly refined our under standing of the roles of selected hemostatic factors in vivo, and occasiona lly altered long-standing concepts. This review summarizes some of the prog ress that has been made in the generation and phenotypic characterization o f mice lacking key hemostatic factors, including coagulation, fibrinolytic, platelet and endothelial cell-associated factors. New insights regarding t he role(s) and interplay of hemostatic factors that have emerged from detai led studies of mice carrying multiple deficits in coagulation and fibrinoly tic system components are highlighted.