Effect of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine on the activated factor X–prothrombin system

Membrane phospholipids are essential in blood coagulation reactions. The importance of negatively changed phosphatidylserine has been shown. The roles of other phospholipids in the blood coagulation system, however, are not clear. This study examined the effects of phosphatidylcholine on the blood coagulation system using liposomes containing varying concentrations of phosphatidylcholine in the presence of phosphatidylserine at a constant concentration. In addition, with phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine at constant concentrations, the effects of phosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine on the blood coagulation system were examined. Using an in vitro reconstructed system of the activated factor X–prothrombin system, blood coagulation was measured by the rate of thrombin formation after the addition of liposome preparations. The results showed suppression of the system by phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine and acceleration by lysophosphatidylcholine. The results of the present study suggest that the cell membrane, the ‘location’ of blood coagulation, is one of the regulatory factors, and that changes in phosphatidylcholine content and phospholipid composition of the cell membrane regulate the coagulation reaction.