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Thromb Haemost 1998; 79(02): 405-409
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1615000
Letters to the Editor
Schattauer GmbH

Thrombin Stimulates Smooth Muscle Cell Procollagen Synthesis and mRNA Levels via a PAR-1 Mediated Mechanism

K. Dabbagh
1   From the Centre for Cardiopulmonary Biochemistry and Respiratory Medicine, University College, London Medical School, The Rayne Institute, London, United Kingdom
,
G. J. Laurent
1   From the Centre for Cardiopulmonary Biochemistry and Respiratory Medicine, University College, London Medical School, The Rayne Institute, London, United Kingdom
,
R. J. McAnulty
1   From the Centre for Cardiopulmonary Biochemistry and Respiratory Medicine, University College, London Medical School, The Rayne Institute, London, United Kingdom
,
R. C. Chambers
1   From the Centre for Cardiopulmonary Biochemistry and Respiratory Medicine, University College, London Medical School, The Rayne Institute, London, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received 03 March 1997

Accepted after resubmission 19 September 1997

Publication Date:
08 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Thrombin is a serine protease involved in haemostasis which exerts a number of cellular effects, including stimulating mesenchymal cell migration, proliferation, and has been implicated both in normal wound healing and pathological conditions associated with hyperproliferation of smooth muscle cells such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. We hypothesize that thrombin, in addition to its proliferative effects, may also influence the deposition of matrix proteins at sites of vascular injury by directly stimulating smooth muscle cell procollagen production.

10 nM thrombin significantly stimulated rat aortic smooth muscle cell procollagen production by 34 ± 3% compared to media control cells over a 48 h incubation period, and increased steady state α1(I) pro-collagen mRNA levels by up to 104 ± 22%. These effects are mediated via interaction of thrombin with the PAR-1 receptor since TRAP (Thrombin Receptor Activating Peptide) stimulated procollagen production by 23 ± 0.5%. In addition, conditioned medium from thrombin-treated cells stimulated procollagen production by 30 ± 3% suggesting that thrombin is acting via the production and/or release of an autocrine mediator.

These data suggest a novel role for thrombin in vascular wound healing and the development of pathological conditions associated with increased connective tissue deposition.

 

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