Tissue Factor Expression of Endothelial Cell in Response to Atherosclerotic Risk Factors

Objective: To study the effect of serum from patients with atherosclerotic risk factors on the synthesis of endothelial tissue factor. Methods: Serum from 30 diabetic patients, 30 hyperlipemic patients, 30 smokers and 30 normal serum were incubated with cultured endothelial cells from a human umbilical vein.  The tissue factor of endothelial cells was measured using the assay that was developed in house after 24 hours incubation time. Results: Smokers’ serum can significantly cause the increase in endothelial tissue factor.  The mean level of tissue factor induced by smokers’ serum is 1.12  microunits/cell  whereas the mean level of tissue factor induced by diabetic serum, hyperlipemic serum and normal serum is 0.4, 0.48 and 0.2 microunit/cell, respectively. Conclusion: Smoking may increase the risk of thrombosis by increasing the tissue factor production of endothelial cells.