Mouse models to study von Willebrand factor structure-function relationships in vivo

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (01) ◽  
pp. 17-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Marx ◽  
I. Badirou ◽  
R. Pendu ◽  
O. Christophe ◽  
C. V. Denis
Keyword(s):  
Structure Function ◽  
Transient Expression ◽  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Mouse Hepatocytes ◽  
Function Relationship ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

SummaryVon Willebrand factor (VWF) structure-function relationship has been studied only through in vitro approaches. The VWF-deficient mouse model has been extremely useful to examine the in vivo function of VWF but does not allow a more subtle analysis of the relative importance of its different domains. However, considering the large size of VWF and its capacity to interact with various ligands in order to support platelet adhesion and aggregation, the necessity to evaluate independently these interactions appeared increasingly crucial. A recently developed technique, known as hydrodynamic injection, which allows transient expression of a transgene by mouse hepatocytes, proved very useful in this regard. Indeed, transient expression of various VWF mutants in VWF-deficient mice contributed to improve our knowledge about the role of VWF interaction with subendothelial collagens and with platelets receptors in VWF roles in haemostasis and thrombosis. These findings can provide new leads in the development of anti-thrombotic therapies.

scholarly journals VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR ABNORMALITIES STUDIED IN THE MOUSE MODEL: WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT VWF FUNCTIONS

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e2013047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Casari ◽  
Cecile V Denis
Keyword(s):  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Von Willebrand Disease ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Mouse Hepatocytes ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor ◽  
Deficient Mice ◽  
Important Shift

Up until recently, von Willebrand Factor (VWF) structure-function relationships have only been studied through in vitro approaches. A powerful technique known as hydrodynamic gene transfer, which allows transient expression of a transgene by mouse hepatocytes, has led to an important shift in VWF research. Indeed this approach has now enabled us to transiently express a number of VWF mutants in VWF-deficient mice in order to test the relative importance of specific residues in different aspects of VWF biology and functions in an in vivo setting. As a result, mice reproducing various types of von Willebrand disease have been generated, models that will be useful to test new therapies. This approach also allowed a more precise identification of the importance of VWF interaction with subendothelial collagens and with platelets receptors in hemostasis and thrombosis. The recent advances gathered from these studies as well as the pros and cons of the technique will be reviewed here.

Abnormal Structure of von Willebrand Factor in Myeloproliferative Syndrome Is Associated to Either Thrombotic or Bleeding Diathesis

1987 ◽  
Vol 58 (02) ◽  
pp. 753-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
M F López-Fernández ◽  
C López-Berges ◽  
R Martín ◽  
A Pardo ◽  
F J Ramos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Proteinase Inhibitors ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
Variable Degree ◽  
Bleeding Diathesis ◽  
Myeloproliferative Syndrome ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

SummaryThe multimeric and subunit patterns of plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) were analyzed in eight patients with myeloproliferative syndrome (MS) in order to investigate the possible existence of heterogeneity in the “in vivo” proteolytic cleavage of the protein, previously observed in this entity. Six patients lacked large vWF multimers, five of them having normal bleeding times (BT) and clinically documented episodes of thrombotic origin, whereas one patient had long BT and bleeding symptoms. Seven patients showed a relative increase in the 176 kDa subunit fragment while the 189 kDa polypeptide was increased in only one. In addition, another patient (and prior to any therapy) showed the presence of a new fragment of approximately 95 kDa which disappeared after Busulfan therapy. The collection of blood from these patients with proteinase inhibitors did not correct the abnormalities.The infusion of DDAVP to two patients with abnormal vWF was accompanied by: the appearance of larger vWF multimers which disappeared rapidly from plasma; an increase in the relative proportion of the satellite bands of each multimer and a further increase of the 176 kDa fragment. These data point to some heterogeneity in the vWF abnormality present in MS which may be related in part to a variable degree of proteolysis of vWF occurring “in vivo” rather than “in vitro”, and which may be associated to either a thrombotic or a bleeding diathesis. They also suggest that despite the presence of abnormal, already proteolyzed vWF, DDAVP-enhanced proteolysis occurs in MS to a similar extent to what is described in normal individuals.

Epinephrine Induces von Willebrand Factor Release from Cultured Endothelial Cells: Involvement of Cyclic AMP-dependent Signalling in Exocytosis

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (06) ◽  
pp. 1182-1188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich M Vischer ◽  
Claes B Wollheinn
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Adenylate Cyclase ◽  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Camp Content ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

Summaryvon Willebrand factor (vWf) is released from endothelial cell storage granules after stimulation with thrombin, histamine and several other agents that induce an increase in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i). In vivo, epinephrine and the vasopressin analog DDAVP increase vWf plasma levels, although they are thought not to induce vWf release from endothelial cells in vitro. Since these agents act via a cAMP-dependent pathway in responsive cells, we examined the role of cAMP in vWf secretion from cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. vWf release increased by 50% in response to forskolin, which activates adenylate cyclase. The response to forskolin was much stronger when cAMP degradation was blocked with IBMX, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (+200%), whereas IBMX alone had no effect. vWf release could also be induced by the cAMP analogs dibutyryl-cAMP (+40%) and 8-bromo-cAMP (+25%); although their effect was weak, they clearly potentiated the response to thrombin. Epinephrine (together with IBMX) caused a small, dose-dependent increase in vWf release, maximal at 10-6 M (+50%), and also potentiated the response to thrombin. This effect is mediated by adenylate cyclase-coupled β-adrenergic receptors, since it is inhibited by propranolol and mimicked by isoproterenol. In contrast to thrombin, neither forskolin nor epinephrine caused an increase in [Ca2+]j as measured by fura-2 fluorescence. In addition, the effects of forskolin and thrombin were additive, suggesting that they act through distinct signaling pathways. We found a close correlation between cellular cAMP content and vWf release after stimulation with epinephrine and forskolin. These results demonstrate that cAMP-dependent signaling events are involved in the control of exocytosis from endothelial cells (an effect not mediated by an increase in [Ca2+]i) and provide an explanation for epinephrine-induced vWf release.

scholarly journals Covalent crosslinking of von Willebrand factor to fibrin

Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Hada ◽  
M Kaminski ◽  
P Bockenstedt ◽  
J McDonagh
Keyword(s):  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Initial Rate ◽  
Factor Xiiia ◽  
Covalent Bonds ◽  
Covalent Crosslinking ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor ◽  
Plasmin Inhibitor

Abstract Factor XIIIa crosslinks a limited number of substrates via epsilon(gamma-glutamyl)-lysyl bond formation. It crosslinks fibrin to itself, alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor and fibronectin to fibrin, and fibronectin to collagen. Results presented here show that plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a substrate for factor XIIIa and can be crosslinked to fibrin during gel formation. vWF-fibrin crosslinking was studied in purified systems and in plasma with 125I-vWF and 131I- fibrinogen. vWF incorporation into fibrin increased with time or increasing factor XIIIa. After electrophoresis of dissolved clots, distribution of 125I and 131I was measured and showed that vWF was crosslinked to the alpha chain of fibrin and entered the high-mol-wt alpha polymer. vWF-fibrin crosslinking decreased the initial rate of alpha polymer formation. Crosslinking of vWF polymer to itself could not be demonstrated under physiologic conditions but occurred if vWF was reduced first. Factor XIIIa catalyzed incorporation of putrescine into both monomeric and polymeric vWF. Altogether, these studies indicate that factor XIIIa can readily form covalent bonds between glutamine in vWF and lysine in fibrin alpha chains. This reaction occurs readily in vitro when plasma clotting is slow and may occur in vivo under similar conditions.

Endothelial von Willebrand factor recruits platelets to atherosclerosis-prone sites in response to hypercholesterolemia

Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 99 (12) ◽  
pp. 4486-4493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Theilmeier ◽  
Carine Michiels ◽  
Erik Spaepen ◽  
Ingrid Vreys ◽  
Désiré Collen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Platelet Glycoprotein ◽  
Perfusion Studies ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

Platelets are thought to play a causal role during atherogenesis. Platelet-endothelial interactions in vivo and their molecular mechanisms under shear are, however, incompletely characterized. Here, an in vivo platelet homing assay was used in hypercholesterolemic rabbits to track platelet adhesion to plaque predilection sites. The role of platelet versus aortic endothelial cell (EC) activation was studied in an ex vivo flow chamber. Pathways of human platelet immobilization were detailed during in vitro perfusion studies. In rabbits, a 0.125% cholesterol diet induced no lesions within 3 months, but fatty streaks were found after 12 months. ECs at segmental arteries of 3- month rabbits expressed more von Willebrand factor (VWF) and recruited 5-fold more platelets than controls (P < .05, n = 5 and 4, respectively). The 3-month ostia had an increased likelihood to recruit platelets compared to control ostia (56% versus 18%, P < .0001, n = 89 and 63, respectively). Ex vivo, the adhesion of 3-month platelets to 3-month aortas was 8.4-fold increased compared to control studies (P < .01, n = 7 and 5, respectively). In vitro, endothelial VWF–platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib and platelet P-selectin– endothelial P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 interactions accounted in combination for 83% of translocation and 90% of adhesion (P < .01, n = 4) of activated human platelets to activated human ECs. Platelet tethering was mainly mediated by platelet GPIbα, whereas platelet GPIIb/IIIa contributed 20% to arrest (P < .05). In conclusion, hypercholesterolemia primes platelets for recruitment via VWF, GPIbα, and P-selectin to lesion-prone sites, before lesions are detectable.

Hemoglobin Blocks Von Willebrand Factor Proteolysis by ADAMTS-13: A Mechanism Associated with Acquired ADAMTS-13 Deficiency in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3919-3919
Author(s):  
Zhou Zhou ◽  
Han Hyojeong ◽  
Miguel A. Cruz ◽  
Jose A. Lopez ◽  
Jing-fei Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sickle Cell Disease ◽  
Sickle Cell ◽  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Elevated Level ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Cell Disease ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

Abstract One of the hallmark events of sickle cell disease (SCD) is vasoocclusion and episodic pain crisis. Although the mechanism of vascular occlusion is very complicated, processes like thrombosis and thromboembolism have been recognized to play an important role in the development of such clinical manifestation in SCD. Studies have shown that the von Willebrand factor (VWF), especially the ultra-large (UL) multimers play a major role in vasoocclusion, which clearly indicates a possible impairment of the VWF-cleaving metalloproteae ADAMTS-13 in these patients with SCD. In a recent work, indeed we have mentioned that the plasma ADAMTS-13 in patients with SCD having normal antigen level showed 35% less protease activity than the normal. There may be several plasma factors responsible for the acquired deficiency of ADAMTS-13 in SCD. Since, the increasing evidences suggest that the elevated level of extracellular hemoglobin (Hb) in plasma parallely associated with the pathogenesis of SCD, we investigated the effects of extracellular Hb on VWF proteolysis by ADAMTS-13. We observed that purified Hb dose-dependently inhibited the ADAMTS-13 cleavage of recombinant(r) VWF and endothelial ULVWF multimers under static and flow conditions. Hb bound to VWF multimers in a saturation-dependent manner and more potently to the rVWFA2 domain (affinity Kd~24nM), which contains the cleavage site for ADAMTS-13. Hb bound also to the ADAMTS-13 (Kd~65nM), with 2.7 times less affinity than to VWFA2. The bindings were neither calcium-dependent nor affected by haptoglobin. However, it is the Hb-binding to VWF that prevented the substrate from being cleaved by ADAMTS-13. These in vitro findings are consistent with the in vivo observations in patients with SCD. An elevated level of extracellular Hb in plasma was inversely correlated (linear regression, r2 =0.6354) with the low activity of ADAMTS-13 in a cohort of ten adult patients with SCD (mean±SE, Hb 346±138 mg/l; activity 33.3±30%) compared to age and gender-matched normal individuals (n=10; Hb 24±8 mg/l; activity 76.2±16%). The data together suggest that patients with SCD suffer from acquired ADAMTS-13 deficiency, primarily because Hb competitively binds and inhibits the proteolysis of VWF multimers, leading to ULVWF accumulation on vascular endothelium and in circulation. The Hb-VWF interaction may therefore be considered as a therapeutic target for reducing thrombotic and vasoocclusive complications in patients with severe hemolysis such as those with SCD.

scholarly journals Enhanced proteolysis of plasma von Willebrand factor in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the hemolytic uremic syndrome

Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 978-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Mannucci ◽  
R Lombardi ◽  
A Lattuada ◽  
P Ruggenenti ◽  
GL Vigano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ◽  
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Thrombocytopenic Purpura ◽  
Uremic Syndrome ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

To examine whether enhanced in vivo proteolysis of von Willebrand factor (vWF) would account for the reported loss of larger multimers in acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS), we studied eight patients with acute TTP/HUS whose blood samples were collected into an anticoagulant containing a cocktail of protease inhibitors to impede in vitro proteolysis. In all, enhanced proteolytic degradation of vWF was expressed as a relative decrease in the intact 225-Kd subunit of vWF and a relative increase in the 176-Kd fragment. However, instead of the loss of larger forms of normal multimers reported by other investigators, the plasma of all but one of our patients (whether they had TTP or HUS) contained a set of larger than normal (supranormal) multimers. Hence, although proteolytic fragmentation of vWF was enhanced during acute TTP/HUS, this phenomenon was not associated with the loss of larger multimers. In the five patients who survived the acute disease and underwent plasma exchange (three with HUS and two with chronic relapsing TTP), subunits and fragments returned to normal values, and supranormal multimers were no longer detected in plasma. In conclusion, even though vWF proteolysis is enhanced in acute TTP/HUS, it does not lead to loss of larger multimers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document