Induction of procoagulant activity in human epidermal cells

We have studied the induction of procoagulant activity (PCA) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in cultured human epidermal cells. Single cell suspensions of epidermal cells were prepared from surgical specimens and stimulated for 24 h with LPS (100 micrograms/ml). PCA was determined by one-stage clotting assay. Stimulation of the epidermal cells with LPS resulted in a significant reduction of the clotting time (approx. 30%) as compared with the nonstimulated controls. Further analysis of the induced PCA showed that it did not require factors of the intrinsic pathway of the clotting cascade (factors XI and XII). Similarly, PCA was not affected by factor IX-deficient plasma but required factors II, VII, and X for its full expression. PCA was inactivated by treatment with phospholipase C but not by heating to 56 degrees C. These data indicate that the epidermal cell PCA resembles tissue factor-like activity, activating the extrinsic clotting pathway. Elimination of Langerhans' cells from the epidermal cell suspension by antibody and complement-mediated lysis did not result in a reduction of PCA in the remaining epidermal cells, indicating that keratinocytes were most likely the producer cells. Induction of PCA on the cell membrane surface of epidermal cells may be an early event resulting in the initiation of a local inflammatory reaction.