scholarly journals Absence of tubular structures and immunolabeling for von Willebrand factor in the platelet alpha-granules from porcine von Willebrand disease [published erratum appears in Blood 1987 Feb;69(2):707]

Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 774-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM Cramer ◽  
JP Caen ◽  
L Drouet ◽  
J Breton-Gorius

Abstract The electron microscopic localization of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was studied in platelets from normal and von Willebrand disease (vWD) pigs. In normal pig platelets, immunolabeling for vWF was far more intense and extensive than in human platelets and was either localized at one pole of the alpha-granule or all along its periphery or long axis. As in human platelets, this immunolabeling coincided with the presence of tubules about 200 nm in diameter. These structures were more numerous than in human platelets, with up to 30 tubules per alpha- granule. They were easily identified either in transverse sections, usually grouped in a less electron-dense part of the matrix at one pole of the alpha-granule, or in longitudinal sections parallel to the long axis of the elongated granules, or coiled around the alpha-granule core. They closely resemble those structures found in Weibel-Palade bodies. In platelets from pigs with severe vWD, these structures were absent, as was the immunolabeling for vWF; however, cytoplasmic microtubules were normally present in these platelets. Thus, the granule-associated tubules can be distinguished from the microtubules, which are larger in diameter (250 nm), are present in both normal and vWD platelets, and do not stain for vWF. These results strongly suggest that the tubular structures present in the alpha-granules of normal porcine platelets correspond to the vWF molecule itself.

Blood ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 774-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM Cramer ◽  
JP Caen ◽  
L Drouet ◽  
J Breton-Gorius

The electron microscopic localization of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was studied in platelets from normal and von Willebrand disease (vWD) pigs. In normal pig platelets, immunolabeling for vWF was far more intense and extensive than in human platelets and was either localized at one pole of the alpha-granule or all along its periphery or long axis. As in human platelets, this immunolabeling coincided with the presence of tubules about 200 nm in diameter. These structures were more numerous than in human platelets, with up to 30 tubules per alpha- granule. They were easily identified either in transverse sections, usually grouped in a less electron-dense part of the matrix at one pole of the alpha-granule, or in longitudinal sections parallel to the long axis of the elongated granules, or coiled around the alpha-granule core. They closely resemble those structures found in Weibel-Palade bodies. In platelets from pigs with severe vWD, these structures were absent, as was the immunolabeling for vWF; however, cytoplasmic microtubules were normally present in these platelets. Thus, the granule-associated tubules can be distinguished from the microtubules, which are larger in diameter (250 nm), are present in both normal and vWD platelets, and do not stain for vWF. These results strongly suggest that the tubular structures present in the alpha-granules of normal porcine platelets correspond to the vWF molecule itself.


1992 ◽  
Vol 68 (04) ◽  
pp. 464-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Fujimura ◽  
S Miyata ◽  
S Nishida ◽  
S Miura ◽  
M Kaneda ◽  
...  

SummaryWe have recently shown the existence of two distinct forms of botrocetin (one-chain and two-chain), and demonstrated that the two-chain species is approximately 30 times more active than the one-chain in promoting von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib. The N-terminal sequence of two-chain botrocetin is highly homologous to sea-urchin Echinoidin and other Ca2+-dependent lectins (Fujimura et al., Biochemistry 1991; 30: 1957–64).Present data indicate that purified two-chain botrocetin binds to vWF from plasmas of patients with type IIA or IIB von Willebrand disease and its interaction is indistinguishable from that with vWF from normal individuals. However, an “activated complex” formed between botrocetin and IIB vWF expresses an enhanced biological activity for binding to GP Ib whereas the complex with IIA vWF has a decreased binding activity. Among several anti-vWF monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) which inhibit ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation and/or vWF binding to GPIb, only two MoAbs (NMC-4 and RFF-VIII RAG:1) abolished direct binding between purified botrocetin and vWF. This suggests that they recognize an epitope(s) on the vWF molecule in close proximity to the botrocetin binding site.


1996 ◽  
Vol 75 (03) ◽  
pp. 515-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J Post ◽  
Anke N de Graaf-Bos ◽  
George Posthuma ◽  
Philip G de Groot ◽  
Jan J Sixma ◽  
...  

Summary Purpose. Thermal angioplasty alters the thrombogenicity of the arterial wall. In previous studies, platelet adhesion was found to increase after heating human subendothelium to 55° C and decrease after heating to 90° C. In the present electron microscopic study, the mechanism of this temperature-dependent platelet adhesion to the heated arterial wall is elucidated by investigating temperature-dependent conformational changes of von Willebrand factor (vWF) and collagen types I and III and the binding of vWF to heated collagen. Methods. Purified vWF and/or collagen was applied to electron microscopic grids and heated by floating on a salt-solution of 37° C, 55° C or 90° C for 15 s. After incubation with a polyclonal antibody against vWF and incubation with protein A/gold, the grids were examined by electron microscopy. Results. At 37° C, vWF was coiled. At 55° C, vWF unfolded, whereas heating at 90° C caused a reduction in antigenicity. Collagen fibers heated to 37° C were 60.3 ± 3.1 nm wide. Heating to 55° C resulted in the unwinding of the fibers, increasing the width to 87.5 ± 8.2 nm (p < 0.01). Heating to 90° C resulted in denatured fibers with an enlarged width of 85.1 ± 6.1 nm (p < 0.05). Heating of collagen to 55° C resulted in an increased vWF binding as compared to collagen heated to 37° C or to 90° C. Incubation of collagen with vWF, prior to heating, resulted in a vWF binding after heating to 55° C that was similar to the 37° C binding and a decreased binding after 90° C. Conclusions. After 55° C heating, the von Willebrand factor molecule unfolds and collagen types I and III exhibit an increased adhesiveness for von Willebrand factor. Heating to 90° C denatures von Willebrand factor and collagen. The conformation changes of von Willebrand factor and its altered binding to collagen type I and III may explain the increased and decreased platelet adhesion to subendothelium after 55° C and 90° C heating, respectively.


1993 ◽  
Vol 69 (02) ◽  
pp. 173-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M Randi ◽  
Elisabetta Sacchi ◽  
Gian Carlo Castaman ◽  
Francesco Rodeghiero ◽  
Pier Mannuccio Mannucci

SummaryType I von Willebrand disease (vWD) Vicenza is a rare variant with autosomal dominant transmission, characterized by the presence of supranormal von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers in plasma, similar to those normally found in endothelial cells and megakaryocytes. The patients have very low levels of plasma vWF contrasting with a mild bleeding tendency. The pathophysiology of this subtype is still unknown. The presence of supranormal multimers in the patients’ plasma could be due to a mutation in the vWF molecule which affects post-translational processing, or to a defect in the cells’ processing machinery, independent of the vWF molecule. In order to determne if type I vWD Vicenza is linked to the vWF gene, we studied six polymorphic systems identified within the vWF gene in two apparently unrelated families with type I vWD Vicenza. The results of this study indicate a linkage between vWF gene and the type I vWD Vicenza trait. This strongly suggests that type I vWD Vicenza is due to a mutation in one of the vWF alleles, which results in an abnormal vWF molecule that is processed to a lesser extent than normal vWF.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (02) ◽  
pp. 180-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J Mancuso ◽  
Elodee A Tuley ◽  
Ricardo Castillo ◽  
Norma de Bosch ◽  
Pler M Mannucci ◽  
...  

Summaryvon Willebrand factor gene deletions were characterized in four patients with severe type III von Willebrand disease and alloantibodies to von Willebrand factor. A PCR-based strategy was used to characterize the boundaries of the deletions. Identical 30 kb von Willebrand factor gene deletions which include exons 33 through 38 were identified in two siblings of one family by this method. A small 5 base pair insertion (CCTGG) was sequenced at the deletion breakpoint. PCR analysis was used to detect the deletion in three generations of the family, including two family members who are heterozygous for the deletion. In a second family, two type III vWD patients, who are distant cousins, share an -56 kb deletion of exons 22 through 43. The identification and characterization of large vWF gene deletions in these type III vWD patients provides further support for the association between large deletions in both von Willebrand factor alleles and the development of inhibitory alloantibodies.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (04) ◽  
pp. 760-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Mohri ◽  
Etsuko Yamazaki ◽  
Zekou Suzuki ◽  
Toshikuni Takano ◽  
Shumpei Yokota ◽  
...  

SummaryA 20-year-old man with severe von Willebrand disease recently presented a progressive bleeding tendency, characterized recurrent subcutaneous hemorrhages and cerebral hemorrhage. Mixing and infusion studies suggested the presence of an inhibitor directed against vWF:RCo activity of von Willebrand factor (vWF) without significant inhibition of the FVIII:C. The inhibitor was identified as an antibody of IgG class. The inhibitor inhibited the interaction of vWF in the presence of ristocetin and that of asialo-vWF with GPIb while it partially blocked botrocetin-mediated interaction of vWF to GPIb. The inhibitor reacted with native vWF, the 39/34kDa fragment (amino acids [aa] 480/ 481-718) and the recombinant vWF fragment (MalE-rvWF508-704), but not with Fragment III-T2 (heavy chains, aa 273-511; light chains, aa 674-728). A synthetic peptide (aa 514-542) did not inhibit vWF-inhibitor complex formation. We conclude that this is the first autoantibody of class IgG from human origin that recognizes the sequence in the A1 loop of vWF, resulting in a virtual absence of functional vWF and a concomitant severe bleeding tendency although recognition site is different from the residues 514-542 which is crucial for vWF-GPIb interaction.


1984 ◽  
Vol 52 (01) ◽  
pp. 057-059 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Dejana ◽  
M Furlan ◽  
B Barbieri ◽  
M B Donati ◽  
E A Beck

SummaryRat platelets do not respond to ristocetin in their own plasma nor do they aggregate in the presence of bovine or porcine factor VIII von Willebrand factor (F VIII R:WF) or human F VIII R:WF in presence of ristocetin. However, rat plasma supports ristocetin induced aggregation of washed human platelets. In this study we report on purification of rat F VIII R:WF from cryoprecipitate. Similarly to porcine or bovine material, purified rat F VIII R:WF induced aggregation of human washed fixed platelets. This effect was enhanced by addition of ristocetin and was not modified by addition of albumin. Rat washed platelets were aggregated by ristocetin in the presence of rat or human F VIII R:WF provided that high concentrations of ristocetin are added in a system essentially free of extraneous proteins. Increasing concentrations of albumin dramatically reduced the ability of ristocetin to aggregate rat platelets while human platelet aggregation by human or rat F VIII R:WF was only moderately affected.These studies show that rat F VIII R:WF can interact with rat and human platelets. The lack of response of rat platelets to ristocetin in their own plasma is most likely due to a low sensitivity of rat platelets to this drug and to an inhibitory activity of plasma proteins on this reaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 432 (2) ◽  
pp. 305-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Tischer ◽  
Maria A. Brehm ◽  
Venkata R. Machha ◽  
Laurie Moon-Tasson ◽  
Linda M. Benson ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (02) ◽  
pp. 192-200
Author(s):  
James S. O'Donnell

AbstractThe biological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 and type 3 von Willebrand disease (VWD) have been studied extensively. In contrast, although accounting for the majority of VWD cases, the pathobiology underlying partial quantitative VWD has remained somewhat elusive. However, important insights have been attained following several recent cohort studies that have investigated mechanisms in patients with type 1 VWD and low von Willebrand factor (VWF), respectively. These studies have demonstrated that reduced plasma VWF levels may result from either (1) decreased VWF biosynthesis and/or secretion in endothelial cells and (2) pathological increased VWF clearance. In addition, it has become clear that some patients with only mild to moderate reductions in plasma VWF levels in the 30 to 50 IU/dL range may have significant bleeding phenotypes. Importantly in these low VWF patients, bleeding risk fails to correlate with plasma VWF levels and inheritance is typically independent of the VWF gene. Although plasma VWF levels may increase to > 50 IU/dL with progressive aging or pregnancy in these subjects, emerging data suggest that this apparent normalization in VWF levels does not necessarily equate to a complete correction in bleeding phenotype in patients with partial quantitative VWD. In this review, these recent advances in our understanding of quantitative VWD pathogenesis are discussed. Furthermore, the translational implications of these emerging findings are considered, particularly with respect to designing personalized treatment plans for VWD patients undergoing elective procedures.


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