Objectives: This study evaluated the role of circulating tissue factor (TF) in mediating thrombus formation on stents in an in vitro model of stent perfusion.
Background: The traditional view of coagulation has recently been challenged by the demonstration that TF is present in circulating blood. The potential contribution of this intravascular pool of TF to thrombus formation on stents is not known.
Methods: Coronary stents were placed in parallel silicone tubes connected to a roller pump that was set to pump blood at a flow rate of 10 ml/min. Stents were then exposed to heparinized blood from healthy volunteers for 120 min.
Results: The presence of the stent in the circuit caused a significant increase in monocyte TF expression, but only monocytes with attached platelets stained positive for TF. Thrombi formed on stents and the thrombi stained positive for TF. Pretreatment of blood with a monoclonal antibody against TF (cH36) caused a 56% reduction in (125)I-fibrin(ogen) deposition on stents compared with controls (p = 0.002). Monocyte depletion of blood reduced (125)I-fibrin(ogen) deposition by 45% (p = 0.01) and TF staining in the thrombus by 83% (p = 0.01). Pretreatment of blood with a monoclonal antibody against P-selectin reduced (125)I-fibrin(ogen) deposition by 24% (p = 0.04). Perfusion of stents with leukocyte-reduced platelet-rich plasma (PRP) produced small thrombi and treatment of PRP with cH36 reduced (125)I-fibrin(ogen) deposition by 43% (p = 0.01).
Conclusions: Circulating TF plays a pivotal role in thrombus formation on stents. Monocytes appear to be the main, but not only, source of TF depositing in the thrombus.