Story Summary: The moment a blood vessel is breached, the coagulation cascade activates a series of enzymes in domino-like fashion, which allows the rapid formation of a plug at the site of injury. As part of a carefully calibrated system of checks and balances, Protein S aids with the inactivation of clotting factors Va and VIIIa, preventing excessive clotting. Though protein Ss dual role in coagulation and inflammation is one that scientists have known about for years, its exact function has remained a mystery. Mice without functional protein S die in utero with massive consumptive blood clots, which soak up all available clotting factors, causing severe hemorrhaging elsewhere. TAM receptors are important for maintaining the physiological integrity of the smooth muscles that line blood vessels, explains Burstyn-Cohen. Without protein S the muscle layer is disordered, and the vessels become leaky. Our findings suggest that in addition to hepatocytes, endothelial cells, which are easily accessible via the circulatory system, may be a particularly good target for gene therapy to correct genetic or acquired defects in ProS or other regulators of blood coagulation. This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, grants from the Lupus Research Institute, the Stein Endowment Fund, and the Hoffman Foundation. D. , in the Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, also contributed to this work. Contact Our News EditorsFor any corrections of factual information, or to contact the editors please use our feedback form. Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: What Is Low Blood Pressure? Please send any medical news or health news press releases to: These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months: What Is Low Blood Pressure? For millions of people who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) hypotension may seem great. For millions of people who suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) hypotension may seem great. Lifestyle changes and adherence to a treatment plan are important for cholesterol management. Lifestyle changes and adherence to a treatment plan are important for cholesterol management. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood that atherosclerosis, a disease of the arteries, will occur….Read the Full Story

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