The protein C anticoagulant pathway serves as a major system for controlling thrombosis,
limiting inflammatory responses, and potentially decreasing endothelial cell apoptosis in
response to inflammatory cytokines and ischemia. The essential components of the pathway
involve thrombin, thrombomodulin, the endothelial cell protein C receptor (EPCR), protein C,
and protein S. Thrombomodulin binds thrombin, directly inhibiting its clotting and cell
activation potential while at the same time augmenting protein C (and thrombin activatable …