ASIALO VON WILLEBRAND FACTOR ENHANCES PLATELET ADHESION TO VASCULAR SUBENDOTHELIUM
Native Von Willebrand factor (NvWF) binds to platelets activated by thrombin, ADP or ristocetin, and also supports the adhesion of platelets to subendothelium at high shear rates. In contrast, asialo von Willebrand factor (AvWF) induces platelet aggregation in absence of platelet activators. We investigated the role of AvWF in supporting the adhesion of platelets to rabbit vessel subendothelium under flow conditions at a shear rate of 2000 sec-1 for 5 min using the Baumgartner perfusion system. We also studied the effects of blockage of platelet GPIb or GPIIb/IIIa on platelet adhesion using monoclonal antibodies (Mabs),and we measured the rate of binding of 111I-labeled NvWF and AvWF to subendothelium. Perfusates consisted of washed platelts and red cells resuspended in a 4% human albumin solution to which increasing concentrations of NvWF or AvWF had been added. Platelets interacting with the perfused vessels were evaluated morphometrically using a computerized system. At a concentration of 1.2 /ig/ml the percentage of total coverage surface was 21.3 ± 4.8% and 40.0±14.6%, for NvWF and AvWF, respectively (p<0.01). Addition of either Mab against GPIb (LJlbl) or against GPIIb/IIIa (CP8) to the perfusates, reduced platelet deposition (p <0.01). The rates of binding of 111I-labeled NvWF and AvWF to perfused vessel subendothelium were similar (0.83±0.1μg and 0.95±0.1 μg ,respectively).Our results indicate that AvWF enhances the interaction of washed platelets with the vessel subendothelium under flow conditions. Furthermore, they suggest that this effect is related to the interaction of AvWF with platelets and not to an increased affinity of AvWF for subendothelium.