Thrombin-induced calcium-independent degranulation of human neutrophils.

Thrombin, a highly specific coagulation factor, can rapidly trigger lysozyme release from human neutrophils without concomitant activation of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. This activation was not dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium. Since thrombin also induces the release of hemostatic and inflammatory metabolites from platelets and mast cells, it is proposed that it plays a significant role in amplification of the inflammatory response.