Thrombin is a Na+-activated, serine protease that is activated by activated Factor X's enzymatic cleavage of two sites on prothrombin. Two allosteric forms of thrombin, slow (S) and fast (F), are focused on procoagulant and anticoagulant activities, respectively.
By activating platelets, thrombin is the primary effector protease in primary hemostasis and is essential for secondary hemostasis. In addition to its well-known roles in hemostasis, thrombin also contributes to a number of biological and pathophysiologic processes that are not hemostatic, most of which are mediated by the activation of protease-activated receptors (PARs). Thrombin cleaves PAR-1, PAR-3, and PAR-4 whereas trypsin cleaves PAR-2. Additionally, thrombin is essential for the migration and metastasis of human cancer cells.
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