Molecular mechanism of tissue factor expression by arsenite in human aortic smooth muscle cells and macrophage-like THP-1 cells

Abstract

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant that causes atherosclerosis, although the pathogenic mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Tissue factor (TF) is the initiator of the coagulation and it has been shown to be involved in the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we found that arsenite stimulates the expression of TF via activation of the Nrf2 pathway in both human aortic smooth muscle cells and macrophage-like human THP-1 cells. It is postulated that arsenite induces a procoagulant state of blood to progress atherosclerosis through induction of TF expression.