Thromboplastin (TPL) is derived from cell membranes and is a mixture of both
phospholipids
Phospholipids are a class of lipids whose molecule has a hydrophilic "head" containing a phosphate group and two hydrophobic "tails" derived from fatty acids, joined by an alcohol residue (usually a glycerol molecule). Marine phospholipids typi ...
and
tissue factor
Tissue factor, also called platelet tissue factor or Coagulation factor III, is a protein present in subendothelial tissue and leukocytes which plays a major role in coagulation and, in humans, is encoded by ''F3'' gene. Its role in the blood c ...
, neither of which are enzymes. Thromboplastin acts on and accelerates the activity of Factor Xa, also known as thrombokinase, aiding
blood coagulation
Coagulation, also known as clotting, is the process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot. It results in hemostasis, the cessation of blood loss from a damaged vessel, followed by repair. The process of coagulatio ...
through catalyzing the conversion of
prothrombin
Prothrombin (coagulation factor II) is encoded in the human by the F2-gene. It is proteolytically cleaved during the clotting process by the prothrombinase enzyme complex to form thrombin.
Thrombin (Factor IIa) (, fibrose, thrombase, throm ...
to
thrombin
Prothrombin (coagulation factor II) is encoded in the human by the F2-gene. It is proteolytically cleaved during the clotting process by the prothrombinase enzyme complex to form thrombin.
Thrombin (Factor IIa) (, fibrose, thrombase, throm ...
. Thromboplastin is found in brain, lung, and other tissues and especially in blood platelets.
Thromboplastin is sometimes used as a synonym for the protein
tissue factor
Tissue factor, also called platelet tissue factor or Coagulation factor III, is a protein present in subendothelial tissue and leukocytes which plays a major role in coagulation and, in humans, is encoded by ''F3'' gene. Its role in the blood c ...
(with its official name "Coagulation factor III
hromboplastin, tissue factor). Historically, thromboplastin was a lab
reagent
In chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. The terms ''reactant'' and ''reagent'' are often used interchangeably, but reactant specifies a ...
, usually derived from
placenta
The placenta (: placentas or placentae) is a temporary embryonic and later fetal organ that begins developing from the blastocyst shortly after implantation. It plays critical roles in facilitating nutrient, gas, and waste exchange between ...
l sources, used to assay
prothrombin time
The prothrombin time (PT) – along with its derived measures of prothrombin ratio (PR) and international normalized ratio (INR) – is an assay for evaluating the Coagulation#Extrinsic pathway, extrinsic pathway and Coagulation#Common pathway, ...
s (PT).
When manipulated in the laboratory, a derivative could be created called partial thromboplastin. Partial thromboplastin was used to measure the intrinsic pathway. This test is called the aPTT, or activated
partial thromboplastin time
The partial thromboplastin time (PTT), also known as the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT or APTT), is a blood test that characterizes coagulation of the blood. A historical name for this measure is the Kaolin-cephalin clotting time ...
. It was not until much later that the subcomponents of thromboplastin and partial thromboplastin were identified. Thromboplastin is the combination of both phospholipids and tissue factor, both of which are needed in the activation of the extrinsic pathway. However, partial thromboplastin is just phospholipids, and not tissue factor. Therefore, although the coagulation cascade can be triggered in vitro through the intrinsic pathway only, in vivo coagulation is triggered by the extrinsic pathway. However, the model better describing how coagulation works is the so-called cell-based model, a more integrated picture of the whole process, in which phospholipid surfaces, such as those provided by platelets, are a key component.
Currently, recombinant tissue factor is available and used in some PT assays. Placental derivatives are still available and are used in some laboratories. Phospholipid is available as an independent reagent or in combination with tissue factor as thromboplastin. Complete thromboplastin consists of tissue factor, phospholipids (since platelets were removed from blood sample being tested), and
CaCl2 to reintroduce calcium ions which were chelated by sodium citrate originally used to prevent coagulation of the sample blood during transportation and/or storage.
See also
*
Tissue factor
Tissue factor, also called platelet tissue factor or Coagulation factor III, is a protein present in subendothelial tissue and leukocytes which plays a major role in coagulation and, in humans, is encoded by ''F3'' gene. Its role in the blood c ...
References
Further reading
* Kottke-Marchant, Kandice; "An Algorithmic Approach to Hemostasis Testing"; CAP Press; Northfield, Il; Copyright 2008. .
External links
* {{MeshName, Thromboplastin
Coagulation system
Human proteins