TFPIα anticoagulant function is highly dependent on protein S in vivo

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor α (TFPIα) is the major physiological regulator of the initiation of blood coagulation. In vitro, TFPIα anticoagulant function is enhanced by its cofactor, protein S. To define the role of protein S enhancement in TFPIα anticoagulant function in vivo, we blocked endogenous TFPI in mice using a monoclonal antibody (14D1). This caused a profound increase in fibrin deposition using the laser injury thrombosis model. To explore the role of plasma TFPIα in regulating thrombus formation, increasing concentrations of human TFPIα were coinjected with 14D1, which dose-dependently reduced fibrin deposition. Inhibition of protein S cofactor function using recombinant C4b-binding protein β chain significantly reduced the anticoagulant function of human TFPIα in controlling fibrin deposition. We report an in vivo model that is sensitive to the anticoagulant properties of the TFPIα-protein S pathway and show the importance of protein S as a cofactor in the anticoagulant function of TFPIα in vivo.