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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Nephrol. 2015 Nov 23;12(2):94–109. doi: 10.1038/nrneph.2015.177

Table 1.

Coagulation regulators with known functions in renal physiology and pathophysiology

Coagulation regulator (alternative name(s)) Function Expression Effects in renal physiology and pathophysiology Refs
Procoagulant
Tissue factor (thromboplastin, CD142, factor III) Initiator; cofactor for factor VIIa in factor IX and factor X activation Subendothelium Induced in CGN, TMA, DN and endotoxaemia
Inhibition protects against CGN and TMA
3338,40,41, 4345,98, 102, 190
Factor Xa Enzyme Plasma Inhibition is protective in DN, endotoxaemia, MsPGN and IR 4951,97,136
Factor VIII (antihaemophilic factor) Cofactor for activated factor IX in factor X activation Plasma Links impaired kidney function with risk of venous thrombosis 75
Factor V (labile factor) Cofactor for factor Xa in prothrombin activation Platelets and plasma Factor V-dependent initiation of coagulation in human mesangial cells in vitro
FV Leiden mutation conveys protective effects in DN
42,112
Prothrombin/thrombin (factor IIa) Zymogen and protease Plasma Elevated in AKI, nephrotic syndrome, CKD, CGN and other renal diseases
Inhibition protects against tubular atrophy, AKI and proinflammatory and proliferative responses in proximal tubular cells and mesangial cells
55,56,90,106, 108,135, 54, 165
Fibrinogen (factor I) Fibrin precursor Plasma, platelets Plasma levels are elevated in diabetic patients and after renal IR
Heterozygous but not homozygous depletion is protective in AKI, CGN and IR
Bβ 15–42 peptide protects against renal IR injury
48,119,147, 149151
Anticoagulant
Thrombomodulin Cofactor for thrombin in protein C activation Endothelial surface Shedding of thrombomodulin and elevated plasma levels of soluble thrombomodulin in diabetes and CKD
Soluble thrombomodulin is protective in experimental glomerulonephritis and IR
Thrombomodulin lectin-like domain deficiency exacerbates HUS and DN
81,86,101, 103105,131, 133,181
Protein C Zymogen and protease Plasma Renal-specific expression is reduced in various kidney diseases
Activation is impaired in animals and patients with diabetes and in renal insufficiency
Treatment with activated protein C is protective in experimental DN, IR and endotoxaemia
25,28,29,46, 82,100,167, 168,172
Antithrombin (heparin cofactor) Protease inhibitor Plasma Deficient in experimental nephrotic syndrome
Protects against tubular atrophy, AKI and PAN-induced nephrosis
145,191
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (extrinsic pathway inhibitor) Protease inhibitor Endothelial surface via GPI, platelets, plasma Induced in CGN Elevated levels partially compensate coagulation activation in diabetes
Deficiency inhibits experimental glomerulonephritis
Inhibition is protective in experimental kidney fibrosis
125,182, 184,185

AKI, acute kidney injury; CGN, chronic glomerulonephritis; CKD, chronic kidney disease; DN, diabetic nephropathy; GPI, glycosylphosphatidyl inositol; HUS, haemolytic uraemic syndrome; IR, ischaemia–reperfusion; MsPGN, mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis; PAN, puromycin aminonucleoside; TMA, thrombotic microangiopathy.