Inflammatory cell participation in coagulation

Vascular cells, and leukocytes in particular, have evolved a formidable machinery to initiate and amplify coagulation. Through multiple, receptor-mediated recognitions this process provides a cellular microenvironment of limited proteolytic activation that contributes to the maintenance of the hemostatic balance in vivo. However, the ability of leukocytes to generate thrombin is also a fundamental aspect of inflammatory responses, and has far-reaching implications in the pathophysiology of vascular diseases. The scope of this article is to revisit the most recent contributions to the cellular and molecular mechanisms of leukocyte-mediated coagulation, and to highlight their role in the pathogenesis of vascular injury.