Summary
There is mounting evidence that zinc, the second most abundant transition metal in
blood, is an important mediator of haemostasis and thrombosis. Prompted by the observation
that zinc deficiency is associated with bleeding and clotting abnormalities, there
now is evidence that zinc serves as an effector of coagulation, anticoagulation and
fibrinolysis. Zinc binds numerous plasma proteins and modulates their structure and
function. Because activated platelets secrete zinc into the local microenvironment,
the concentration of zinc increases in the vicinity of a thrombus. Consequently, the
role of zinc varies depending on the microenvironment; a feature that endows zinc
with the capacity to spatially and temporally regulate haemostasis and thrombosis.
This paper reviews the mechanisms by which zinc regulates coagulation, platelet aggregation,
anticoagulation and fibrinolysis and outlines how zinc serves as a ubiquitous modulator
of haemostasis and thrombosis.
Keywords
Zinc - coagulation - contact system - fibrinolysis - platelets