Effect of the VWF promoter (GT)n repeat and single-nucleotide polymorphism c.-2527G>A on circulating von Willebrand factor levels under normal conditions

Abstract Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the normal population variability of plasma von Willebrand Factor (vWF) levels, however, regulatory mechanisms at the vWF gene locus itself have not yet been identified. We have investigated the association between polymorphic variation in the 5′-regulatory region of the vWF gene and levels of plasma vWF:Ag in a study of 261 group O blood donors. Three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the vWF promoter: C/T at -1234, A/G at -1185, and G/A at -1051. These SNPs had identical allele frequencies of 0.36 for the -1234C, -1185A, and -1051G alleles and 0.64 for the -1234T, -1185G, and -1051A alleles and were in strong linkage disequilibrium. In fact, these polymorphisms segregated as two distinct haplotypes: -1234C/-1185A/-1051G (haplotype 1) and -1234T/-1185G/-1051A (haplotype 2) with 12.6% of subjects homozygous for haplotype 1, 40.6% homozygous for haplotype 2, and 42.5% of subjects heterozygous for both haplotypes. Only 4.3% of individuals had other genotypes. A significant association between promoter genotype and level of plasma vWF:Ag was established (analysis of covariance [ANCOVA], P = .008; Kruskal-Wallis test,P = .006); individuals with the CC/AA/GG genotype had the highest mean vWF:Ag levels (0.962 U/mL), intermediate values of vWF:Ag (0.867 U/mL) were observed for heterozygotes (CT/AG/GA), and those with the TT/GG/AA genotype had the lowest mean plasma vWF:Ag levels (0.776 U/mL). Interestingly, when the sample was subgrouped according to age, the significant association between promoter genotype and plasma vWF:Ag level was accentuated in subjects > 40 years of age (analysis of variance [ANOVA], P = .003; Kruskal-Wallis test, P= .001), but was not maintained for subjects ≤ 40 years of age (ANOVA, P > .4; Kruskal-Wallis test, P > .4). In the former subgroup, mean levels of plasma vWF:Ag for subjects with the CC/AA/GG, CT/AG/GA, and TT/GG/AA genotypes were 1.075, 0.954, and 0.794 U/mL, respectively. By searching a transcription factor binding site profile database, these polymorphic sequences were predicted to interact with several transcription factors expressed in endothelial cells, including Sp1, GATA-2, c-Ets, and NFκB. Furthermore, the binding sites at the -1234 and -1051 SNPs appeared to indicate allelic preferences for some of these proteins. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) performed with recombinant human NFκB p50 showed preferential binding of the -1234T allele (confirmed by supershift EMSAs), and EMSAs using bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) nuclear extracts produced specific binding of a nuclear protein to the -1051A allele, but not the -1051G allele. These findings suggest that circulating levels of vWF:Ag may be determined, at least in part, by polymorphic variation in the promoter region of the vWF gene, and that this association may be mediated by differential binding of nuclear proteins involved in the regulation of vWF gene expression.

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Variation at the von Willebrand Factor (vWF) Gene Locus Is Associated With Plasma vWF:Ag Levels: Identification of Three Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the vWF Gene Promoter

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v93.12.4277.412k03_4277_4283 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 93 (12) ◽

pp. 4277-4283 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Angela M. Keightley ◽

Y. Miu Lam ◽

Jolene N. Brady ◽

Cherie L. Cameron ◽

David Lillicrap

Keyword(s):

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Von Willebrand Factor ◽

Gene Locus ◽

Strong Linkage Disequilibrium ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Polymorphic Variation ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Haplotype 1 ◽

Von Willebrand ◽

Willebrand Factor

Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the normal population variability of plasma von Willebrand Factor (vWF) levels, however, regulatory mechanisms at the vWF gene locus itself have not yet been identified. We have investigated the association between polymorphic variation in the 5′-regulatory region of the vWF gene and levels of plasma vWF:Ag in a study of 261 group O blood donors. Three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the vWF promoter: C/T at -1234, A/G at -1185, and G/A at -1051. These SNPs had identical allele frequencies of 0.36 for the -1234C, -1185A, and -1051G alleles and 0.64 for the -1234T, -1185G, and -1051A alleles and were in strong linkage disequilibrium. In fact, these polymorphisms segregated as two distinct haplotypes: -1234C/-1185A/-1051G (haplotype 1) and -1234T/-1185G/-1051A (haplotype 2) with 12.6% of subjects homozygous for haplotype 1, 40.6% homozygous for haplotype 2, and 42.5% of subjects heterozygous for both haplotypes. Only 4.3% of individuals had other genotypes. A significant association between promoter genotype and level of plasma vWF:Ag was established (analysis of covariance [ANCOVA], P = .008; Kruskal-Wallis test,P = .006); individuals with the CC/AA/GG genotype had the highest mean vWF:Ag levels (0.962 U/mL), intermediate values of vWF:Ag (0.867 U/mL) were observed for heterozygotes (CT/AG/GA), and those with the TT/GG/AA genotype had the lowest mean plasma vWF:Ag levels (0.776 U/mL). Interestingly, when the sample was subgrouped according to age, the significant association between promoter genotype and plasma vWF:Ag level was accentuated in subjects > 40 years of age (analysis of variance [ANOVA], P = .003; Kruskal-Wallis test, P= .001), but was not maintained for subjects ≤ 40 years of age (ANOVA, P > .4; Kruskal-Wallis test, P > .4). In the former subgroup, mean levels of plasma vWF:Ag for subjects with the CC/AA/GG, CT/AG/GA, and TT/GG/AA genotypes were 1.075, 0.954, and 0.794 U/mL, respectively. By searching a transcription factor binding site profile database, these polymorphic sequences were predicted to interact with several transcription factors expressed in endothelial cells, including Sp1, GATA-2, c-Ets, and NFκB. Furthermore, the binding sites at the -1234 and -1051 SNPs appeared to indicate allelic preferences for some of these proteins. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) performed with recombinant human NFκB p50 showed preferential binding of the -1234T allele (confirmed by supershift EMSAs), and EMSAs using bovine aortic endothelial cell (BAEC) nuclear extracts produced specific binding of a nuclear protein to the -1051A allele, but not the -1051G allele. These findings suggest that circulating levels of vWF:Ag may be determined, at least in part, by polymorphic variation in the promoter region of the vWF gene, and that this association may be mediated by differential binding of nuclear proteins involved in the regulation of vWF gene expression.

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Genetic determinants of plasma von Willebrand factor antigen levels: a target gene SNP and haplotype analysis of ARIC cohort

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2010-08-300152 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 117 (19) ◽

pp. 5224-5230 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Marco Campos ◽

Wei Sun ◽

Fuli Yu ◽

Maja Barbalic ◽

Weihong Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Von Willebrand Factor ◽

Von Willebrand Disease ◽

Blood Type ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Genetic Determinants ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Distinct Haplotype ◽

Von Willebrand ◽

And Storage ◽

Willebrand Factor

Abstractvon Willebrand factor (VWF) is an essential component of hemostasis and has been implicated in thrombosis. Multimer size and the amount of circulating VWF are known to impact hemostatic function. We associated 78 VWF single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes constructed from those SNPs with VWF antigen level in 7856 subjects of European descent. Among the nongenomic factors, age and body mass index contributed 4.8% and 1.6% of VWF variation, respectively. The SNP rs514659 (tags O blood type) contributed 15.4% of the variance. Among the VWF SNPs, we identified 18 SNPs that are associated with levels of VWF. The correlative SNPs are either intronic (89%) or silent exonic (11%). Although SNPs examined are distributed throughout the entire VWF gene without apparent cluster, all the positive SNPs are located in a 50-kb region. Exons in this region encode for VWF D2, D′, and D3 domains that are known to regulate VWF multimerization and storage. Mutations in the D3 domain are also associated with von Willebrand disease. Fifteen of these 18 correlative SNPs are in 2 distinct haplotype blocks. In summary, we identified a cluster of intronic VWF SNPs that associate with plasma levels of VWF, individually or additively, in a large cohort of healthy subjects.

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Cosegregation of von Willebrand factor gene polymorphisms and possible germinal mosaicism in type IIB von Willebrand disease

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v77.7.1476.1476 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 77 (7) ◽

pp. 1476-1483 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

EW Murray ◽

AR Giles ◽

PJ Bridge ◽

IR Peake ◽

DP Lillicrap

Keyword(s):

Von Willebrand Factor ◽

Von Willebrand Disease ◽

Nucleotide Substitutions ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Unaffected Parent ◽

Von Willebrand ◽

Willebrand Factor ◽

Germinal Mosaicism ◽

Significant Linkage

Abstract Recent reports of the mutations resulting in von Willebrand disease (vWD) have indicated that some cases of type IIA vWD are caused by single nucleotide substitutions in the gene encoding von Willebrand factor (vWF). However, the molecular pathogenesis of type IIB vWD remains unresolved and, with the complex posttranslational processing required for fully functional vWF, the mutations responsible for this phenotype may occur at loci other than the vWF gene. This study has used six intragenic vWF polymorphisms to assess the linkage of type IIB vWD to this gene in three families (48 individuals). The results of these studies indicate that there is significant linkage between the vWF gene and the type IIB phenotype (logarithm of the odds ratio of 7.2 at theta = 0), suggesting that the mutations responsible for this disorder frequently occur at this locus. Results from one of these families indicates that the disorder has been transmitted from an unaffected parent to two children who have inherited the same vWF gene as seven unaffected siblings. This finding is suggestive of the presence of germinal mosaicism for the mutation in the father.

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Cosegregation of von Willebrand factor gene polymorphisms and possible germinal mosaicism in type IIB von Willebrand disease

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v77.7.1476.bloodjournal7771476 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 77 (7) ◽

pp. 1476-1483

Author(s):

EW Murray ◽

AR Giles ◽

PJ Bridge ◽

IR Peake ◽

DP Lillicrap

Keyword(s):

Von Willebrand Factor ◽

Von Willebrand Disease ◽

Nucleotide Substitutions ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Unaffected Parent ◽

Von Willebrand ◽

Willebrand Factor ◽

Germinal Mosaicism ◽

Significant Linkage

Recent reports of the mutations resulting in von Willebrand disease (vWD) have indicated that some cases of type IIA vWD are caused by single nucleotide substitutions in the gene encoding von Willebrand factor (vWF). However, the molecular pathogenesis of type IIB vWD remains unresolved and, with the complex posttranslational processing required for fully functional vWF, the mutations responsible for this phenotype may occur at loci other than the vWF gene. This study has used six intragenic vWF polymorphisms to assess the linkage of type IIB vWD to this gene in three families (48 individuals). The results of these studies indicate that there is significant linkage between the vWF gene and the type IIB phenotype (logarithm of the odds ratio of 7.2 at theta = 0), suggesting that the mutations responsible for this disorder frequently occur at this locus. Results from one of these families indicates that the disorder has been transmitted from an unaffected parent to two children who have inherited the same vWF gene as seven unaffected siblings. This finding is suggestive of the presence of germinal mosaicism for the mutation in the father.

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Influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in factor VIII and von Willebrand factor genes on plasma factor VIII activity: the ARIC Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2011-10-383661 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 119 (8) ◽

pp. 1929-1934 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Marco Campos ◽

Ashley Buchanan ◽

Fuli Yu ◽

Maja Barbalic ◽

Yang Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Factor Viii ◽

Von Willebrand Factor ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

Single Nucleotide ◽

Fviii Activity ◽

Von Willebrand ◽

Aric Study ◽

Willebrand Factor ◽

Intronic Snps

AbstractFactor VIII (FVIII) functions as a cofactor for factor IXa in the contact coagulation pathway and circulates in a protective complex with von Willebrand factor (VWF). Plasma FVIII activity is strongly influenced by environmental and genetic factors through VWF-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the coding and promoter sequence in the FVIII gene have been extensively studied for effects on FVIII synthesis, secretion, and activity, but impacts of non–disease-causing intronic SNPs remain largely unknown. We analyzed FVIII SNPs and FVIII activity in 10 434 healthy Americans of European (EA) or African (AA) descent in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Among covariates, age, race, diabetes, and ABO contributed 2.2%, 3.5%, 4%, and 10.7% to FVIII intersubject variation, respectively. Four intronic FVIII SNPs associated with FVIII activity and 8 with FVIII-VWF ratio in a sex- and race-dependent manner. The FVIII haplotypes AT and GCTTTT also associated with FVIII activity. Seven VWF SNPs were associated with FVIII activity in EA subjects, but no FVIII SNPs were associated with VWF Ag. These data demonstrate that intronic SNPs could directly or indirectly influence intersubject variation of FVIII activity. Further investigation may reveal novel mechanisms of regulating FVIII expression and activity.

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