Coagulation Factor XII is a plasma protein, also known as Hageman factor, that plays a crucial role in blood clotting, or coagulation. It is a part of the intrinsic pathway, one of the two primary pathways involved in the blood clotting process.
Upon an injury or damage to blood vessels, Factor XII is activated and initiates a chain reaction leading to the formation of a blood clot. The binding of Factor XII with negatively charged substances, such as collagen or other exposed subendothelial tissues, triggers its activation. Once activated, Factor XII undergoes proteolytic cleavage, resulting in its conversion to Factor XIIa, the active form.
Factor XIIa then interacts with other coagulation factors, such as prekallikrein and high molecular weight kininogen, to form a complex called the intrinsic tenase complex. This complex activates Factor XI, which subsequently activates Factor IX. The activated form of Factor IX, in turn, leads to the activation of Factor X, a crucial component in the formation of a blood clot.
The coagulation cascade mediated by Factor XII is essential for maintaining the integrity of the blood vessels and preventing excessive blood loss. Any deficiencies or abnormalities in Factor XII can result in coagulation disorders, such as hereditary angioedema, a condition characterized by recurrent swelling in various body parts.
Understanding the function and regulation of Factor XII is important for the diagnosis and treatment of coagulation disorders, as well as the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the coagulation pathway.
