Tissue Factor, Lipid Rafts, and Microparticles

Evidence is emerging that tissue-factor-bearing microparticles and other microparticles arise from regions of the parent cell's plasma membrane that are rich in lipid rafts. In this brief review, we summarize the evidence for the raft origins of microparticles and the implications of these origins for the biological and medical consequences of microparticle production and for therapeutic strategies to diminish their production and potential to do harm.