Studies of a mechanism inhibiting the initiation of the extrinsic pathway of coagulation.

We have extended earlier studies (Blood 66:204, 1985) of a mechanism of inhibition of factor VIIa/tissue factor activity that requires a plasma component (called herein extrinsic pathway inhibitor or EPI) and factor Xa. An activated peptide release assay using 3H-factor IX as a substrate was used to evaluate inhibition. Increasing the tissue factor concentration from 20% to 40% (vol/vol) overcame the inhibitory mechanism in normal plasma but not in factor VII-deficient plasma supplemented with a low concentration of factor VII. A second wave of factor IX activation obtained by a second addition of tissue factor to plasma with a normal factor VII concentration was almost abolished by supplementing the reaction mixture with additional EPI and factor X. Factor Xa's active site was necessary for factor Xa's contribution to inhibition, but preliminary incubation of factor Xa with EPI in the absence of factor VIIa/tissue factor complex or of factor VIIa/tissue factor complex in the absence of EPI did not replace the need for the simultaneous presence of factor Xa, factor VIIa/tissue factor, calcium, and EPI in an inhibitory reaction mixture. Inhibition of factor VIIa/tissue factor was reversible; both tissue factor and factor VIIa activity could be recovered from a dissociated, inhibited factor VIIa/tissue factor complex. EPI appeared to bind to a factor VIIa/tissue factor complex formed in the presence of factor Xa but not to a factor VIIa/tissue factor complex formed in the absence of factor Xa.