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Thrombomodulin expression by human blood monocytes and by human synovial tissue lining macrophages

S S McCachren1, J Diggs, J B Weinberg

  • 1Division of Geriatrics, Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center, NC 27705.

Blood
|December 15, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Thrombomodulin, crucial for blood clotting regulation, is expressed by monocytes and tissue macrophages. This finding expands our understanding of mononuclear phagocyte roles in anticoagulation.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Thrombomodulin is a key cofactor for thrombin-mediated activation of anticoagulant protein C.
  • Understanding thrombomodulin expression in mononuclear phagocytes is important for anticoagulation research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression and localization of thrombomodulin in peripheral blood monocytes and tissue-resident mononuclear phagocytes.
  • To determine the functional activity of thrombomodulin on monocytes.

Main Methods:

  • Northern blot analysis for thrombomodulin mRNA detection.
  • Immunohistochemical staining for thrombomodulin protein.
  • Assay of thrombomodulin activity on intact monocytes.
  • Analysis of synovial lining cells in osteoarthritic and rheumatoid arthritis tissues.

Main Results:

  • Thrombomodulin mRNA and protein are expressed in peripheral blood monocytes.
  • Lipopolysaccharide treatment decreased thrombomodulin mRNA levels in monocytes.
  • Thrombomodulin activity was detected on the surface of intact monocytes.
  • Synovial lining cells, a type of mononuclear phagocyte, also express thrombomodulin.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating monocytes and tissue mononuclear phagocytes express thrombomodulin.
  • Mononuclear phagocytes possess functional thrombomodulin on their surface.
  • This expression suggests a role for these cells in local anticoagulation.

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