Pulmonary tissue factor mRNA expression during murine traumatic shock: effect of P-selectin blockade

Tissue factor (TF) is the primary cellular initiator of the coagulation protease cascade and serves as a cell surface receptor and a specific cofactor for plasma factors VII/VIIa. Because there is evidence that TF is regulated by a P-selectin dependent gene, we examined TF mRNA expression in the lungs during murine traumatic shock in the presence and absence of recombinant soluble P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (rsPSGL.Ig) by using ribonuclease protection assays. Moreover, we studied the level of TF mRNA expression in mice with their P-selectin gene deleted (P-selectin -/-). Our data show that TF mRNA was significantly increased (+143%; P < 0.001) in the lungs 2 h after trauma compared with control rats subjected to sham trauma, which exhibited reduced TF mRNA expression (-34%; P < 0.001) after systemic administration of rsPSGL.Ig. The expression of TF mRNA was also significantly decreased (-29%; P < 0.05) in the lungs of P-selectin -/- mice compared with wild-type control C57B16 mice. The present results provide evidence for a P-selectin-dependent mechanism that enhances TF gene expression in traumatic shock. The major support for this mechanism is that either blockade of P-selectin by rsPSGL.Ig or deletion of the P-selectin gene leads to significant decreases in TF mRNA expression in the lung. These results are consistent with the concept that TF interacting with P-selectin may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of trauma.