Co-localization of tissue factor protein and its mRNA in human blood monocytes

Triggering of both the extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation pathways is mediated by the cell surface receptor Tissue Factor (TF). The ability to observe the cell surface TF protein and its mRNA at the single cell level would facilitate our understanding of the cellular biology of TF in health and diseased states. Employing the methods of immuno-gold silver staining and in situ hybridization using non-isotopically labelled oligoprobes, tissue factor antigen and mRNA were detected simultaneously in endotoxin stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes.