Description
Thrombomodulin (TM; CD141 or BDCA-3) is a 557 amino acid transmembrane glycoprotein predominantly expressed on the luminal surface of endothelial cells of most blood vessels, but also present in other gestational tissues like placenta and myometrium, polymorphonuclear neutrophils and monocytes. TM plays a central role in protection against excessive coagulation via protein C pathway, with subsequent inactivation of coagulation V and VIII. After processing and removal of the N-terminal site a 70-100KDa protein is obtained. TM consist of 5 domains: D1. CTLD, EGF-like D2, extracellular serine/threonine D3, transmembrane D4 and cytoplasmic D5. TM forms a complex with thrombin. This complex is needed in the conversion of protein C into its activated form (APC). APC leads to degradation of coagulation factor Va and VIIIa leading to continuation of its downstream pathway and consumption of thrombin. The binding to thrombin is 1:1 and the complex accelerated the activation of protein C significantly. When the coagulation cascade is activated, prothrombin is converted to thrombin by coagulation factors Va and VIIIa, ultimately leading to fibrin clot formation