scholarly journals Enhanced proteolysis of plasma von Willebrand factor in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and the hemolytic uremic syndrome

Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 978-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Mannucci ◽  
R Lombardi ◽  
A Lattuada ◽  
P Ruggenenti ◽  
GL Vigano ◽  
...  

To examine whether enhanced in vivo proteolysis of von Willebrand factor (vWF) would account for the reported loss of larger multimers in acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS), we studied eight patients with acute TTP/HUS whose blood samples were collected into an anticoagulant containing a cocktail of protease inhibitors to impede in vitro proteolysis. In all, enhanced proteolytic degradation of vWF was expressed as a relative decrease in the intact 225-Kd subunit of vWF and a relative increase in the 176-Kd fragment. However, instead of the loss of larger forms of normal multimers reported by other investigators, the plasma of all but one of our patients (whether they had TTP or HUS) contained a set of larger than normal (supranormal) multimers. Hence, although proteolytic fragmentation of vWF was enhanced during acute TTP/HUS, this phenomenon was not associated with the loss of larger multimers. In the five patients who survived the acute disease and underwent plasma exchange (three with HUS and two with chronic relapsing TTP), subunits and fragments returned to normal values, and supranormal multimers were no longer detected in plasma. In conclusion, even though vWF proteolysis is enhanced in acute TTP/HUS, it does not lead to loss of larger multimers.

Blood ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 978-983 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Mannucci ◽  
R Lombardi ◽  
A Lattuada ◽  
P Ruggenenti ◽  
GL Vigano ◽  
...  

Abstract To examine whether enhanced in vivo proteolysis of von Willebrand factor (vWF) would account for the reported loss of larger multimers in acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS), we studied eight patients with acute TTP/HUS whose blood samples were collected into an anticoagulant containing a cocktail of protease inhibitors to impede in vitro proteolysis. In all, enhanced proteolytic degradation of vWF was expressed as a relative decrease in the intact 225-Kd subunit of vWF and a relative increase in the 176-Kd fragment. However, instead of the loss of larger forms of normal multimers reported by other investigators, the plasma of all but one of our patients (whether they had TTP or HUS) contained a set of larger than normal (supranormal) multimers. Hence, although proteolytic fragmentation of vWF was enhanced during acute TTP/HUS, this phenomenon was not associated with the loss of larger multimers. In the five patients who survived the acute disease and underwent plasma exchange (three with HUS and two with chronic relapsing TTP), subunits and fragments returned to normal values, and supranormal multimers were no longer detected in plasma. In conclusion, even though vWF proteolysis is enhanced in acute TTP/HUS, it does not lead to loss of larger multimers.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 610-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Galbusera ◽  
Marina Noris ◽  
Chiara Rossi ◽  
Silvia Orisio ◽  
Jessica Caprioli ◽  
...  

Abstract We investigated here the changes in von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers in recurrent, sporadic and familial forms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) to see whether they are actually proteolyzed in vivo in these patients. Molecular determinants of fragments in vWF were also characterized to identify possible sites of cleavage of the subunit. Unusually large vWF multimers were found in blood of 8 of 10 patients with recurrent HUS/TTP, both in the acute phase and in remission, but never in familial and sporadic cases. Instead, all of the groups showed evidence of enhanced fragmentation of vWF multimers during the acute phase. Increased fragmentation was also shown by decrease in native 225-kD vWF subunit. In recurrent and sporadic HUS/TTP, enhanced fragmentation normalized at remission, but the abnormality persisted in familial HUS/TTP patients. The latter findings suggest that patients with familial HUS/TTP may have a congenital abnormality in vWF processing. Analysis with specific monoclonal antibodies showed the presence of the normal vWF fragments with apparent molecular mass of 189, 176, and 140 kD in all patients; however, in 6 recurrent and in 5 familial cases, novel fragments that differed in size from normal ones were found. The size of these abnormal fragments differed from one patient to another and none of them was ever found in normal plasma. These results documented, for the first time in HUS/TTP, an abnormal cleavage of the vWF subunit that might account for the increased fragmentation observed in these patients.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 610-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Galbusera ◽  
Marina Noris ◽  
Chiara Rossi ◽  
Silvia Orisio ◽  
Jessica Caprioli ◽  
...  

We investigated here the changes in von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers in recurrent, sporadic and familial forms of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) to see whether they are actually proteolyzed in vivo in these patients. Molecular determinants of fragments in vWF were also characterized to identify possible sites of cleavage of the subunit. Unusually large vWF multimers were found in blood of 8 of 10 patients with recurrent HUS/TTP, both in the acute phase and in remission, but never in familial and sporadic cases. Instead, all of the groups showed evidence of enhanced fragmentation of vWF multimers during the acute phase. Increased fragmentation was also shown by decrease in native 225-kD vWF subunit. In recurrent and sporadic HUS/TTP, enhanced fragmentation normalized at remission, but the abnormality persisted in familial HUS/TTP patients. The latter findings suggest that patients with familial HUS/TTP may have a congenital abnormality in vWF processing. Analysis with specific monoclonal antibodies showed the presence of the normal vWF fragments with apparent molecular mass of 189, 176, and 140 kD in all patients; however, in 6 recurrent and in 5 familial cases, novel fragments that differed in size from normal ones were found. The size of these abnormal fragments differed from one patient to another and none of them was ever found in normal plasma. These results documented, for the first time in HUS/TTP, an abnormal cleavage of the vWF subunit that might account for the increased fragmentation observed in these patients.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 778-785 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Remuzzi ◽  
Miriam Galbusera ◽  
Marina Noris ◽  
Maria Teresa Canciani ◽  
Erica Daina ◽  
...  

Abstract Whether measurement of ADAMTS13 activity may enable physicians to distinguish thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is still a controversial issue. Our aim was to clarify whether patients with normal or deficient ADAMTS13 activity could be distinguished in terms of disease manifestations and multimeric patterns of plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF). ADAMTS13 activity, VWF antigen, and multimeric pattern were evaluated in patients with recurrent and familial TTP (n = 20) and HUS (n = 29). Results of the collagen-binding assay of ADAMTS13 activity were confirmed in selected samples by testing the capacity of plasma to cleave recombinant VWF A1-A2-A3. Most patients with TTP had complete or partial deficiency of ADAMTS13 activity during the acute phase, and in some the defect persisted at remission. However, complete ADAMTS13 deficiency was also found in 5 of 9 patients with HUS during the acute phase and in 5 patients during remission. HUS patients with ADAMTS13 deficiency could not be distinguished clinically from those with normal ADAMTS13. In a subgroup of patients with TTP or HUS, the ADAMTS13 defect was inherited, as documented by half-normal levels of ADAMTS13 in their asymptomatic parents, consistent with the heterozygous carrier state. In patients with TTP and HUS there was indirect evidence of increased VWF fragmentation, and this occurred also in patients with ADAMTS13 deficiency. In conclusion, deficient ADAMTS13 activity does not distinguish TTP from HUS, at least in the recurrent and familial forms, and it is not the only determinant of VWF abnormalities in these conditions.


2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (10) ◽  
pp. 454-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Donadelli ◽  
Federica Banterla ◽  
Miriam Galbusera ◽  
Cristina Capoferri ◽  
Sara Bucchioni ◽  
...  

SummaryThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a disease characterized by microvascular thrombosis, often associated with deficiency of the von Willebrand factor (VWF) cleaving protease ADAMTS13.We investigated the spectrum of ADAMTS13 gene mutations in patients with TTP and congenital ADAMTS13 deficiency to establish the consequences on ADAMTS13 processing and activity. We describe five missense (V88M, G1239V, R1060W, R1123C and R1219W), 1 nonsense (W1016Stop) and 1 insertion (82_83insT) mutations. In two patients no mutation was identified despite undetectable protease activity. Expression in HEK293 mammalian cells (V88M, G1239V, R1123C and R1219W) documented that three missense mutants were not secreted, whereas theV88M was secreted at low levels and with reduced activity. We also provide evidence that impaired secretion of ADAMTS13 mutants observed in vitro translates into severely reduced ADAMTS13 antigen levels in patients in vivo. To evaluate whether the small amounts of mutant protease present in the circulation of patients had VWF cleaving activity, WT and mutant rADAMTS13 were stably expressed in Drosophila S2 cells under the influence of the Drosophila BiP protein signal sequence, which allows protein secretion. Drosophila expression system showed a 40–60% protease activity in the mutants. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within exons and intron boundaries were found in patients, suggesting that the interplay of SNPs could at least in part account for ADAMTS13 functional abnormalities in patients without mutations. In conclusion, defective secretion and impaired activity of the mutants concur to determine an almost complete deficiency of ADAMTS13 activity in patients with a homozygous or two heterozygous ADAMTS13 mutations.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 3935-3935
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Cruz ◽  
Francisca C. Gushiken ◽  
Rolando Rumbaut ◽  
Kavita N Patel ◽  
Nancy Turner ◽  
...  

Abstract Factor H is a plasma protein that regulates activation of the alternative complement system. Mutations in the factor H gene are associated with a rare form of thrombotic microangiopathy, known as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are characterized by systemic (TTP) or renal (HUS) microvascular thrombosis. The clinical presentations of TTP and HUS have some common clinical features, including the presence of thrombocytopenia, intravascular hemolysis, and mechanical injury to red cells. We investigated whether factor H has any interaction with proteins involved in the pathogenesis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, namely von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and ADAMTS-13. We found that factor H binds to the A1 and A2 domains of VWF, and inhibits cleavage of VWF by ADAMTS-13 under static and flowing conditions. Factor H deficient mice had a delayed thrombous formation after vessel wall injury, and showed a lower mortality rate and a higher platelet count after Shiga toxin/lipopolysaccharide challenge compared to their wild-type littermates. We concluded that factor H, in addition to its complement regulatory activity, might regulates cleavage of VWF by ADAMTS-13. Presence of an abnormal factor H that is unable to control complement activity on cell surfaces but still capable of inhibiting cleavage of VWF might contribute to the pathogenesis of thrombotic microangiopathies.


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