Tissue Factor/CD142

Tissue factor/CD142 is a 47 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein encoded by the F3 gene that initiates blood coagulation through the extrinsic pathway. It is normally absent from cells in direct contact with blood, constitutively expressed in subendothelial adventitial cells and brain, and induced on monocytes and endothelium by inflammatory stimuli. Upon vascular injury it binds factor VII/VIIa, and the resulting complex proteolytically activates factor X, while factor VIIa signaling through PAR2 links coagulation to inflammation and angiogenesis. CD142 expression marks procoagulant monocytes in thromboinflammation, and natural inhibitors of the factor VIIa-tissue factor complex such as TFPI regulate this initiating step.