
Exposure of blood to tissue factor (TF) activates the extrinsic (TF:FVIIa) and intrinsic (FVIIIa:FIXa) pathways of coagulation. In this study, we found that mice expressing low levels of human TF (≈1% of wild-type levels) in an mTF −/− background had significantly shorter lifespans than wild-type mice, in part, because of spontaneous fatal hemorrhages. All low-TF mice exhibited a selective heart defect that consisted of hemosiderin deposition and fibrosis. Direct intracardiac measurement demonstrated a 30% reduction ( P < 0.001) in left ventricular function in 8-month-old low-TF mice compared with age-matched wild-type mice. Mice expressing low levels of murine FVII (≈1% of wild-type levels) exhibited a similar pattern of hemosiderin deposition and fibrosis in their hearts. In contrast, FIX −/− mice, a model of hemophilia B, had normal hearts. Cardiac fibrosis in low-TF and low-FVII mice appears to be caused by hemorrhage from cardiac vessels due to impaired hemostasis. We propose that TF expression by cardiac myocytes provides a secondary hemostatic barrier to protect the heart from hemorrhage.
Mice, Knockout, Hemostasis, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Myocardium, Fibrinogen, Gene Expression, Mice, Transgenic, Hemosiderin, Factor VII, Endomyocardial Fibrosis, Hemorrhagic Disorders, Hemophilia B, Models, Biological, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Organ Specificity, Animals, Humans, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Muscle, Skeletal
Mice, Knockout, Hemostasis, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Myocardium, Fibrinogen, Gene Expression, Mice, Transgenic, Hemosiderin, Factor VII, Endomyocardial Fibrosis, Hemorrhagic Disorders, Hemophilia B, Models, Biological, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Organ Specificity, Animals, Humans, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Muscle, Skeletal
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 96 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
