scholarly journals Rapid activation of endothelial cells enables Plasmodium falciparum adhesion to platelet-decorated von Willebrand factor strings

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 115 (7) ◽  
pp. 1472-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Bridges ◽  
James Bunn ◽  
Jan A. van Mourik ◽  
Georges Grau ◽  
Roger J.S. Preston ◽  
...  

Abstract During Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections, von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels are elevated, postmortem studies show platelets colocalized with sequestered infected erythrocytes (IEs) at brain microvascular sites, whereas in vitro studies have demonstrated platelet-mediated IE adhesion to tumor necrosis factor-activated brain endothelium via a bridging mechanism. This current study demonstrates how all these observations could be linked through a completely novel mechanism whereby IEs adhere via platelet decorated ultra-large VWF strings on activated endothelium. Using an in vitro laminar flow model, we have demonstrated tethering and firm adhesion of IEs to the endothelium specifically at sites of platelet accumulation. We also show that an IE pro-adhesive state, capable of supporting high levels of binding within minutes of induction, can be removed through the action of the VWF protease ADAMTS-13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13). We propose that this new mechanism contributes to sequestration both independently of and in concert with current adhesion mechanisms.

2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (09) ◽  
pp. 421-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Lethagen ◽  
Christina Isaksson ◽  
Charlotta Schaedel ◽  
Lars Holmberg

SummaryHereditary defects of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) gene cause von Willebrand’s disease (VWD) which shows great variability dependent on the nature and location of the mutation. We here describe the characteristics of a substitution of methionine for threonine 1156 in the D3 domain of the VWF, i.e. the domain involved in the intracellular multimerization of pro-VWF dimers. A VWD patient with severe symptoms was a compound heterozygote for the T1156M mutation and a null allele (Q2470X) on the other chromosome. This led to marked reduction of plasma VWF concentration to about 0.05 U/ml and an abnormality of VWF multimers as in type 2A VWD. Expression in vitro of the mutation demonstrated that 1156M-VWF is secreted from COS-7 cells in a much reduced amount and lacking large multimers. When coexpressed with normal VWF 1156M-VWF decreased the secretion of normal VWF in a dose-dependent manner, the secreted VWF showing all the multimers. Two relatives of the propositus were single heterozygotes for the T1156M mutation and were either asymptomatic or had the manifestations of mild type 1 VWD. The expression data and studies of platelet VWF indicate that the T1156M mutation results in intracellular retention of VWF rather than impaired synthesis. Three other members of the family were heterozygotes for the Q2470X mutation and demonstrated the variable expressivity of a null allele.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junxian Yang ◽  
Zhiwei Wu ◽  
Quan Long ◽  
Jiaqi Huang ◽  
Tiantian Hong ◽  
...  

Both neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and von Willebrand factor (VWF) are essential for thrombosis and inflammation. During these processes, a complex series of events, including endothelial activation, NET formation, VWF secretion, and blood cell adhesion, aggregation and activation, occurs in an ordered manner in the vasculature. The adhesive activity of VWF multimers is regulated by a specific metalloprotease ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motifs, member 13). Increasing evidence indicates that the interaction between NETs and VWF contributes to arterial and venous thrombosis as well as inflammation. Furthermore, contents released from activated neutrophils or NETs induce the reduction of ADAMTS13 activity, which may occur in both thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Recently, NET is considered as a driver of endothelial damage and immunothrombosis in COVID-19. In addition, the levels of VWF and ADAMTS13 can predict the mortality of COVID-19. In this review, we summarize the biological characteristics and interactions of NETs, VWF, and ADAMTS13, and discuss their roles in TMAs, AIS, and COVID-19. Targeting the NET-VWF axis may be a novel therapeutic strategy for inflammation-associated TMAs, AIS, and COVID-19.


2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (09) ◽  
pp. 462-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huub H. D. M. van Vliet ◽  
Mies C. Kappers-Klunne ◽  
Jan J. Michiels ◽  
Frank W. G. Leebeek

SummaryDose-response relationship was studied between PFA-100 closure times (PFA CTs) and factor (F)VIII-von Willebrand factor (VWF) parameters in patients with von Willebrand disease (VWD) type 1 and type 2 before and after treatment with DDAVP (n=84) or FVIII/VWF concentrate (n=38). DDAVP treatment of patients with VWD type 1 normalised the PFA CTs by increasing VWF levels to normal. Of the 14 patients with VWD type 2, PFA CTs did not normalize in eight. Haemate-P substitution in patients with VWD type 1 induced a less favourable response as compared to DDAVP, because PFA CTs did not correct in all patients. Of 12 patients with VWD type 2 treated with Haemate-P, six showed a correction of PFA CTs (<250 sec), which correlated with the normalisation of the VWF CB/ Ag ratio. In-vitro studies were performed by using whole blood of patients with VWD and adding various amounts of FVIII/VWF concentrate. Addition of Haemate-P induced an increase of the VWF CB/Ag ratio from 0.30 to 0.70 in blood of patients with VWD type 2 with correction of the PFA CTs. Immunate did not result in an increase of VWF CB/Ag ratio in blood of VWD type 2 patients, and the PFA CTs remained prolonged. We conclude that PFA-100 might be an adequate instrument not only for diagnosis but also for monitoring of DDAVP responses and FVIII/ VWF substitution of patients with VWD type 1 and 2,but this is dependent upon the type of VWD and the concentrate used.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Benjamin Reardon ◽  
Leonardo Pasalic ◽  
Emmanuel J. Favaloro

von Willebrand factor (VWF) is an adhesive protein involved in primary hemostasis and facilitates platelet adhesion to sites of vascular injury, thereby promoting thrombus formation. VWF exists in plasma as multimers of increasing size, with the largest (high molecular weight; HMW) expressing the greatest functional activity. A deficiency of VWF is associated with a bleeding disorder called von Willebrand disease (VWD), whereas an excess of VWF, in particular the HMW forms, is associated with thrombosis. ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif-13), also known as VWF-cleaving protease, functions to moderate the activity of VWF by cleaving multimers of VWF and limiting the expression of the largest multimers of VWF. A deficiency of ADAMTS13 is therefore associated with an excess of (HMW forms of) VWF, and thus thrombosis. Indeed, any disturbance of the VWF/ADAMTS13 ratio or ‘axis’ may be associated with pathophysiological processes, including prothrombotic tendency. However, both thrombosis or bleeding may be associated with such disturbances, depending on the presenting events. This review evaluates the relationship of VWF and ADAMTS13 with cardiac disease, including cardiac failure, and associated pathophysiology.


Author(s):  
Ryan Seth ◽  
Thomas A. J. McKinnon ◽  
X. Frank Zhang

The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. While this infection has been shown to affect the respiratory system, a high incidence of thrombotic events has been observed in severe cases of COVID-19 and in a significant portion of COVID-19 non-survivors. While prior literature has reported on both the coagulopathy and hypercoagulability of COVID-19, the specifics of coagulation have not been fully investigated. Observations of microthrombosis in COVID-19 patients have brought attention to potential inflammatory endothelial injury. Von Willebrand factor (VWF) and its protease, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13 (ADAMTS13), play an important homeostatic role in responding to endothelial injury. This report provides an overview of the literature investigating the role the VWF/ADAMTS13 axis may have in COVID-19 thrombotic events and suggests potential therapeutic strategies to prevent the progression of coagulopathy in COVID-19 patients.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen De Ceunynck ◽  
Simon F. De Meyer ◽  
Karen Vanhoorelbeke

Abstract von Willebrand factor (VWF) is amongst others synthesized by endothelial cells and stored as ultra-large (UL) VWF multimers in Weibel-Palade bodies. Although UL-VWF is proteolysed by ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease domain with thrombospondin type-1 motif, number 13) on secretion from endothelial cells, in vitro experiments in the absence of ADAMTS13 have demonstrated that a proportion of these UL-VWF multimers remain anchored to the activated endothelium. These multimers unravel, bind platelets, and wave in the direction of the flow. These so-called VWF “strings” have also been visualized in vivo, lining the lumen of activated mesenteric veins of Adamts13−/− mice. Various studies have demonstrated the extraordinary length of these VWF strings, the availability of their platelet binding and ADAMTS13 cleavage sites, and the possible nature of their endothelial attachment. VWF strings are also capable of tethering leukocytes and parasite-infected red blood cells. However, the majority of studies have been performed in the absence of ADAMTS13, a condition only experienced in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. A normal functional role of VWF strings in healthy persons or in other disease pathologies remains unclear. In this review, we discuss some of the puzzling characteristics of VWF strings, and we debate whether the properties of VWF strings in the absence of ADAMTS13 might be relevant for understanding (patho)physiologic mechanisms.


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