The protein C pathway in inflammatory bowel disease: the missing link between inflammation and coagulation

Traditionally described as a major anti-coagulant system, the protein C (PC) pathway, consisting of thrombomodulin, the endothelial cell protein C receptor and activated PC (APC), is gaining increasing attention as an important regulator of microvascular inflammation. Although they possess several a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in molecular medicine 2008-06, Vol.14 (6), p.237-244
Main Authors: Lust, Mark, Vulcano, Marisa, Danese, Silvio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blood Coagulation
Endothelium, Vascular - immunology
Endothelium, Vascular - metabolism
Humans
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - immunology
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - metabolism
Intestinal Mucosa - immunology
Intestinal Mucosa - metabolism
Pathology
Protein C - metabolism
Signal Transduction
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Summary:Traditionally described as a major anti-coagulant system, the protein C (PC) pathway, consisting of thrombomodulin, the endothelial cell protein C receptor and activated PC (APC), is gaining increasing attention as an important regulator of microvascular inflammation. Although they possess several anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective functions, the expression and function of the components of the PC pathway is downregulated during inflammation. Recent evidence suggests that the PC pathway is defective in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and that restoring its function has anti-inflammatory effects on cultured intestinal microvascular endothelial cells and in animal models of colitis. Here, we propose that the PC pathway has an important role in governing intestinal microvascular inflammation and might provide a novel therapeutic target in the management of IBD.
ISSN:1471-4914
1471-499X
DOI:10.1016/j.molmed.2008.03.005