Tissue factor pathway inhibitor in atherosclerosis

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) reduces the development of atherosclerosis by regulating tissue factor (TF) mediated coagulation pathway. In this review, we focus on recent findings on the inhibitory effects of TFPI on endothelial cell activation, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration, inflammatory cell recruitment and extracellular matrix which are associated with the development of atherosclerosis. Meanwhile, we are also concerned about the impact of TFPI levels and genetic polymorphisms on clinical atherogenesis. This article aims to explain the mechanism in inhibiting the development of atherosclerosis and clinical effects of TFPI, and provide new ideas for the clinical researches and mechanism studies of atherothrombosis. •In this review, it is summarized from reports that TFPI levels have predictive potential for early clinical atherosclerosis, and its genetic polymorphisms are associated with the risk of atherogenesis.•At the same time, some excellent studies are cited and found that TFPI can inhibit the development of atherothrombosis in a variety of pathways.•This review also suggests possible directions for future clinical research.