In vitro the rate of protein C activation by thrombin is significantly accelerated by two distinct cofactors (a) the endothelial cell surface protein, thrombomodulin, and (b) human coagulation Factor Va. We have recently reported that the activity of Factor Va is contained in the 78,000-D light chain. In this study we have investigated the effects of Factor Va and its light chain on the activation of protein C in the presence of cultured endothelial cells. Thrombin-catalyzed protein C activation on human umbilical vein endothelial cells was enhanced by Factor Va. The ability of Factor Va to stimulate protein C activation on these cells was saturated at 50 nM Factor Va and was observed at several protein C concentrations. Isolated Factor Va light chain in concentrations up to 50 nM also accelerated protein C activation on endothelial cells, but higher concentrations inhibited the reaction. The effects of Factor Va or its light chain on protein C activation were also shown on a mouse hemangioma cell line but not on human fibroblasts nor on a human amelanotic melanoma cell line. Protein C activation on endothelial cells was partially inhibited by a goat anti-thrombomodulin antibody and further addition of a polyclonal rabbit anti-Factor V(Va) antibody resulted in additional inhibition. Endothelial cells grown in medium supplemented with human serum, devoid of Factor V coagulant activity, contained cell surface Factor V(Va) (approximately 15,000 molecules/cell) as measured by the binding of a monoclonal IgG directed against Factor V(Va). These cells also bound an additional 6,000-10,000 molecules Factor Va per cell as determined by direct binding studies using 125I-Factor Va. We suggest that thrombomodulin and Factor Va act in concert to regulate protein C activation on the surface of endothelial cells.