scholarly journals von Willebrand factor and factor VIII are independently required to form stable occlusive thrombi in injured veins

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 2424-2429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anil K. Chauhan ◽  
Janka Kisucka ◽  
Colin B. Lamb ◽  
Wolfgang Bergmeier ◽  
Denisa D. Wagner

Abstract von Willebrand factor (VWF) protects factor VIII (FVIII) from proteolysis and mediates the initial contact of platelets with the injured vessel wall, thus playing an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis. VWF is crucial for the formation of occlusive thrombi at arterial shear rates. However, with only a few conflicting studies published, the role of VWF in venous thrombosis is still unclear. Using gene-targeted mice, we show that in ferric chloride–injured veins platelet adhesion to subendothelium is decreased and thrombus growth is impaired in VWF−/− mice when compared with wild type (WT). We also observed increased embolization in the VWF−/− mice, which was due to lower FVIII levels in these mice as recombinant factor VIII (r-FVIII) restored thrombus stability. Despite normalization of blood clotting time and thrombus stability after r-FVIII infusion, the VWF−/− venules did not occlude. Transgenic platelets lacking the VWF receptor GPIbα extracellular domain showed decreased adhesion to injured veins. But, after a delay, all the injured venules occluded in these transgenic mice. Thus, VWF likely uses other adhesion receptors besides GPIbα in thrombus growth under venous shear conditions. Our studies document crucial roles for VWF and FVIII in experimental thrombosis under venous flow conditions in vivo.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 1789-1789
Author(s):  
Anil K. Chauhan ◽  
Janka Kisucka ◽  
Colin B. Lamb ◽  
Wofgang Bergmeier ◽  
Denisa D. Wagner

Abstract von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a large adhesive glycoprotein synthesized in megakaryocytes and endothelial cells and stored in platelet a-granules and Weibel-Palade bodies respectively. It protects Factor VIII (FVIII) from proteolysis and mediates the initial contact of platelets with the injured vessel wall thus playing an important role in hemostasis and thrombosis. VWF is crucial for the formation of occlusive thrombi at arterial shear rates. However, with only a few conflicting studies published, the role of VWF in venous thrombosis is still unclear. Therefore in order to understand the in vivo role of VWF and FVIII in experimental thrombosis under venous flow conditions, we decided to evaluate thrombosis in VWF−/−, FVIII−/− and transgenic mice lacking the GPIbα extracellular domain which was replaced by human Interleukin-4 receptor (IL4Rα/GPIbα-tg). In ferric chloride-injured veins, platelet adhesion to subendothelium is decreased and thrombus growth is impaired in the VWF−/− mice when compared to wild-type (WT). In the WT mice, thrombi grew to occlusive size with a mean time of 18 min and all injured venules occluded, whereas in VWF−/− mice none of the vessels occluded by 40 min after injury, when observation was terminated. Venules of mice deficient in FVIII treated similarly also did not occlude because of embolization. The infusion of recombinant human-FVIII (r-hu-FVIII) in FVIII−/− mice normalized the occlusion time to WT values. We also observed thrombus instability in the VWF−/− mice, which was due to lower FVIII levels in these mice since r-huFVIII restored thrombus stability i.e. prevented breaking of the thrombi with large platelet aggregates moving downstream. Despite normalization of blood clotting time and thrombus stability after r-FVIII infusion, the VWF−/− thrombi grew at a slower rate than WT and the venules did not occlude. In transgenic mice lacking the GPIbα extracellular domain, all injured venules occluded. Thus, VWF uses other adhesion receptors besides GPIbα in thrombus growth under venous shear conditions. Our studies document crucial independent roles for VWF and FVIII in experimental thrombosis under venous flow conditions in vivo.


1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Ordinas ◽  
E Bastida ◽  
M Garrido ◽  
J Monteagudo ◽  
L de Marco ◽  
...  

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.


Blood ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1214-1217
Author(s):  
E Fressinaud ◽  
D Baruch ◽  
C Rothschild ◽  
HR Baumgartner ◽  
D Meyer

Although it is well established that plasma von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is essential to platelet adhesion to subendothelium at high shear rates, the role of platelet vWF is less clear. We studied the respective role of both plasma and platelet vWF in mediating platelet adhesion to fibrillar collagen in a parallel-plate perfusion chamber. Reconstituted blood containing RBCs, various mixtures of labeled washed platelets and plasma from controls or five patients with severe von Willebrand disease (vWD), was perfused through the chamber for five minutes at a shear rate of 1,600 s-1. Platelet-collagen interactions were estimated by counting the radioactivity in deposited platelets and by quantitative morphometry. When the perfusate consisted of normal platelets suspended in normal plasma, platelet deposition on the collagen was 24.7 +/- 3.6 X 10(6)/cm2 (mean +/- SEM, n = 6). Significantly less deposition (16 +/- 2.3) was observed when vWD platelets were substituted for normal platelets. In mixtures containing vWD plasma, significantly greater deposition (9 +/- 2.2) was obtained with normal than with vWD platelets (1 +/- 0.4) demonstrating a role for platelet vWF in mediating the deposition of platelets on collagen. Morphometric analysis confirmed these data. Our findings indicate that platelet, as well as plasma, vWF mediates platelet-collagen interactions at a high shear rate.


F1000Research ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl C Desch

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a multimeric plasma glycoprotein that plays a central role in the initiation of blood coagulation. Through interactions between its specific functional domains, the vascular wall, coagulation factor VIII, and platelet receptors, VWF maintains hemostasis by binding to platelets and delivering factor VIII to the sites of vascular injury. In the healthy human population, plasma VWF levels vary widely. The important role of VWF is illustrated by individuals at the extremes of the normal distribution of plasma VWF concentrations where individuals with low VWF levels are more likely to present with mucocutaneous bleeding. Conversely, people with high VWF levels are at higher risk for venous thromboembolic disease, stroke, and coronary artery disease. This report will summarize recent advances in our understanding of environmental influences and the genetic control of VWF plasma variation in healthy and symptomatic populations and will also highlight the unanswered questions that are currently driving this field of study.


Blood ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 1163-1173 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Moake ◽  
MJ Weinstein ◽  
JH Troll ◽  
LE Chute ◽  
NM Colannino

Abstract The predominant procoagulant factor VIII (VIII:C) form in normal human plasma containing various combinations of anticoagulants and serine/cysteine protease inhibitors is a protein with mol wt 2.6 +/- 0.2 X 10(5). This protein can be detected by 125I-anti-VIII:C Fab binding and gel electrophoresis in the presence and absence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and is distinct from the subunit of factor VIII/von Willebrand factor (VIII:vWF) multimers. No larger VIII:C form is present in plasma from patients with severe congenital deficiencies of each of the coagulation factors, other than VIII:C. The mol wt approximately 2.6 X 10(5) VIII:C form is, therefore, likely to be the in vivo procoagulant form of VIII:C, rather than a partially proteolyzed, partially activated derivative of a larger precursor. About 60% of this procoagulant mol wt approximately 2.6 X 10(5) VIII:C form in plasma is present in noncovalent complexes with larger VIII:vWF multimers, which attach reversibly to platelet surfaces in the presence of ristocetin. This VIII:vWF-bound protein of mol wt approximately 2.6 X 10(5) may be the plasma procoagulant form of VIII:C which, after proteolytic activation, accelerates the IXa-mediated cleavage and activation of X postulated to occur on platelet surfaces.


Blood ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1336-1340 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Escolar ◽  
A Cases ◽  
E Bastida ◽  
M Garrido ◽  
J Lopez ◽  
...  

Abstract Uremic patients have an impaired platelet function that has been related to membrane glycoprotein (GP) abnormalities. Using a perfusion system, we have studied the interaction of normal and uremic platelets with vessel subendothelium (SE) under flow conditions. Reconstituted blood containing washed platelets, purified von Willebrand factor (vWF) (1 U/mL), and normal washed red blood cells was exposed to de- endothelialized rabbit segments for 10 minutes at two different shear rates (800 and 1,600 seconds-1). In some experiments a monoclonal antibody to the GPIIb-IIIa complex (EDU3) was added to the perfusates. With normal platelets, the percentage of the vessel covered by platelets (%CS) was 23.1% +/- 3.7% at 800 seconds-1 and 30% +/- 4.3% at 1,600 seconds-1. Platelets were observed in contact or forming monolayers on vessel SE. EDU3 inhibited the spreading of normal platelets. The %CS (11.1% +/- 3.3%) was statistically decreased (P less than .01) and most of the platelets were observed in contact with the vessel surface. These data indicate that, under flow conditions, the interaction of vWF with GPIIb-IIIa can support the spreading of normal platelets in the absence of exogenous fibrinogen. Under the same experimental conditions, the interaction of uremic platelets with SE was markedly impaired at both shear rates studied (P less than .01 v normal platelets). The presence of EDU3 did not modify the interaction of uremic platelets. These results confirm the impairment of the platelet adhesion observed in uremic patients. Furthermore, they indicate the presence of a functional defect in the interaction of vWF with GPIIb-IIIa. The fact that perfusions with normal and uremic platelets in the presence of an antibody to the GPIIb-IIIa complex did not show any differences gives indirect evidence on a functionally normal interaction vWF/GPIb in uremic patients.


Blood ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 996-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
KS Sakariassen ◽  
M Ottenhof-Rovers ◽  
JJ Sixma

The role of divalent cations in platelet adherence to deendothelialized human arteries in flowing blood was investigated in an annular perfusion chamber. Spreading of platelets on the subendothelium was impaired below 30 microM of free Ca2+ ions (Ca2+). When Ca2+ was replaced by Mg2+, adherence was unchanged in perfusates without exogenous factor VIII-von Willebrand factor (FVIII-vWF), but the ability of FVIII-vWF to support platelet adherence was lost. Binding of FVIII-vWF to the vessel wall was independent of divalent cations, but bound FVIII-vWF was only able to mediate adherence after exposure to Ca2+. Pretreatment of FVIII-vWF with the calcium chelator EGTA (10 mM) resulted in loss of the ability to facilitate platelet adherence, while the ristocetin cofactor activity remained intact. Full restoration of the ability to mediate platelet adherence could only be obtained by prolonged dialysis against Ca2+ in the millimolar range. These data indicate that divalent cations have at least two separate roles to play in supporting platelet adherence: (1) platelet spreading on the subendothelium requires Ca2+ or Mg2+; (2) FVIII-vWF should be exposed to Ca2+ to obtain its optimal biologic activity in supporting platelet adherence.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document