Activated protein C inhibits platelet prothrombin-converting activity

Abstract

Abstract Bovine platelets that have been activated by thrombin facilitate the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin in the presence of calcium ions and factor Xa. Activated protein C, a vitamin-K-dependent plasma protein, inhibits this platelet prothrombin-converting activity. The inhibition is time dependent and is not reversed by increasing concentrations of factor Xa. However, factor Xa is able to protect the platelet prothrombin-converting activity from inactivation by activated protein C. The activated protein C causes a parallel loss of factor Xa receptor sites and platelet prothrombin-converting activity. Activated protein C may contribute to the regulation of clotting through inactivation of the platelet prothrombin-converting activity.