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The Nijmegen Hemostasis Assay: Simultaneous Fluorogenic Measurement of Thrombin and Plasmin Generation in a Single Well
Published on: February 27, 2026
New insights into modulation of thrombin formation
Henri M H Spronk1, Julian I Borissoff, Hugo ten Cate
1Laboratory for Clinical Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, UNS50: Box8, 6200, MD, Maastricht, The Netherlands, henri.spronk@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Current Atherosclerosis Reports
|September 13, 2013
Summary
Thrombin plays dual roles in vascular health, protecting against thrombosis and maintaining vessel integrity. However, its pro-inflammatory actions can promote atherosclerosis, suggesting therapeutic inhibition as a potential treatment.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Vascular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Thrombin is a key enzyme regulating hemostasis and non-hemostatic vascular functions.
- Physiologically, thrombin promotes vascular integrity and protects against thrombosis.
- Thrombin interacts with endothelial receptors like thrombomodulin and protease-activated receptors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the dual roles of thrombin in vascular health and disease.
- To investigate the pathological shift of thrombin's activity towards thrombogenesis in atherosclerosis.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of thrombin inhibition in managing atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of physiological and pathophysiological roles of thrombin in the vasculature.
- Analysis of thrombin's interaction with endothelial receptors and protease-activated receptors.
- Discussion of therapeutic strategies involving thrombin inhibition.
Main Results:
- Thrombin generation protects against thrombosis and maintains vascular endothelial integrity.
- Downregulation of receptors like thrombomodulin shifts thrombin activity towards pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory actions.
- This shift contributes to a pro-atherogenic phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Thrombin's vascular effects are pleiotropic, with both protective and detrimental roles.
- Pathological conditions like atherosclerosis involve a shift in thrombin's activity.
- Long-term inhibition of thrombin may offer a therapeutic avenue for reducing atherosclerosis burden and altering plaque phenotype.
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