The multiple roles of tissue factor in wound healing.

The procoagulant role of tissue factor (TF) is well recognized. The ability to form a hemostatic clot is essential to normal healing of an injury. However, TF also has additional activities as a regulator of cellular processes. Both by production of coagulant molecules that also have cytokine and growth factor-like activities, and by directly mediating cell signaling events, TF has the potential to influence the course and tempo of healing. The literature in this are remains somewhat sparse, but suggests that modulation of TF expression plays a role in modulating the host response to injury.