Antithrombin and ischemia/reperfusion

Acute inflammation, a localized response that occurs in various diseases, is characterized by neutrophil infiltration into tissues. This process requires neutrophils to initially tether and roll along the endothelium of postcapillary venules before undergoing firm adhesion and emigration out of the vasculature into the tissues. Recently, thrombin has been implicated at multiple sites in the inflammatory cascade, and may represent an important link between inflammation and thrombosis. Our recent studies demonstrate that thrombin is an important mediator of neutrophil-dependent injury in ischemia-reperfusion injury. Furthermore, antithrombin concentrate may be therapeutically efficacious in ischemia-reperfusion injury, as it is capable of attenuating the thrombin-mediated effects on neutrophil-endothelial interactions.