Factor VII activating protease (FSAP) regulates the expression of inflammatory genes in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells.

Background And Aims: The factor VII activating protease (FSAP) knockout mice have a bigger neointima after vascular injury and a larger infarct volume after stroke. The Marburg I (MI) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the FSAP-encoding gene is associated with an increased risk of stroke and carotid stenosis in humans. We hypothesize that the regulation of gene expression by FSAP in vascular cells accounts for its vasculo-regulatory properties.