Rheological approach to the analysis of blood coagulation in endothelial cell-coated tubes: activation of the intrinsic reaction on the erythrocyte surface.

Coagulation of blood in cultured endothelial cell-coated tubes was examined using a rheological technique. Coagulation of recalcified, platelet-free plasma in contact with an endothelial cell monolayer did not occur within the experimental time period (more than 150 min). The endothelial cell surface did not activate the intrinsic coagulation reaction or the extrinsic coagulation reaction initiated by tissue factor. The time of onset of coagulation in platelet-free plasma supplemented with erythrocytes was nearly the same as that of whole blood (31.2 +/- 5.5 min), which was shorter than that for platelet-rich plasma (54.3 +/- 14.3 min) and platelet-free plasma supplemented with granulocytes (58.3 +/- 6.3 min). In factor VII-, XI- or XII-deficient, platelet-free plasma supplemented with erythrocytes, the time of onset of coagulation was about 30 min. The coagulation of factor IX-deficient, platelet-free plasma supplemented with erythrocytes, however, did not occur within the experimental time period. These data suggest that activation of factor IX on the erythrocyte surface is capable of activating the intrinsic coagulation system.