Thrombomodulin, TM is cell surface glycoprotein, plays an important role in the protein C anticoagulant pathway. It located in a vein, artery and capillary endothelial cells on the surface of plasma membrane protein. It is generally believed: TM vascular endothelial injury is an important parameter is the thrombin receptor, known in a variety of normal human tissues, can also be expressed in many tumors, TM may be similar to the E-cadherin,and is a lectin Like activity of a new class of members of the cell adhesion molecules.CD141/Thrombomodulin is an exclusively endothelial cell surface glycoprotein that forms a 1:1 complex with thrombin. Binding of thrombin to this high-affinity receptor alters its specificity toward several substrates. The complex activates protein C approximately 1000 times faster than thrombin alone. Activated protein C degrades clotting factors V and VIII, thus, thrombomodulin converts thrombin into a physiologic anticoagulant. Thrombomodulin is also found in the circulatory and urinary systems, the physiologic significance of this is obscure.
