Tissue factor expression on the surface of endothelial cells can be induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a synergistic manner. We have investigated the role of the two different TNF receptors for this synergy. Firstly, stimulation of the 60 kDa TNF receptor (TNFR60) by a mutant of TNF specific for TNFR60 induced responses comparable to wild-type TNF. In contrast, stimulation of TNFR80 by a TNFR80-specific TNF mutein did not result in enhancement of tissue factor expression even in the presence of a suboptimal TNFR60 triggering. Secondly, we tested neutralizing TNF receptor antibodies for inhibition of tissue factor synthesis induced by VEGF and TNF. A TNFR60-specific antibody inhibited tissue factor production over a broad range of TNF concentrations, indicating an essential role of TNFR60 in the TNF/VEGF synergy. In contrast, blocking of TNF binding to TNFR80 strongly inhibited TNF-induced tissue factor expression at low, but less pronounced at high, TNF concentrations. In conclusion, these data are in agreement with a model in which TNFR80 participates in the synergy between VEGF and low concentrations of soluble TNF by passing the ligand to the signalling TNFR60.