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Up until recently, von Willebrand Factor (VWF) structure-function relationships have only been studied through in vitro approaches. A powerful technique known as hydrodynamic gene transfer, which allows transient expression of a transgene by mouse hepatocytes, has led to an important shift in VWF research. Indeed this approach has now enabled us to transiently express a number of VWF mutants in VWF- deficient mice in order to test the relative importance of specific residues in different aspects of VWF biology and functions in an in vivo setting. As a result, mice reproducing various types of von Willebrand disease have been generated, models that will be useful to test new therapies. This approach also allowed a more precise identification of the importance of VWF interaction with subendothelial collagens and with platelets receptors in hemostasis and thrombosis. The recent advances gathered from these studies as well as the pros and cons of the technique will be reviewed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factor X (FX), a plasma glycoprotein playing a central role in coagulation has a long circulatory half-life compared to closely related coagulation factors. The activation peptide of FX has been shown to influence its clearance with two N-glycans as key determinants of FX's relatively long survival. To decipher FX clearance mechanism, organ biodistribution and cellular interactions of human plasma FX (pd-FX), recombinant FX (rFX), N-deglycosylated FX (N-degly-FX) and recombinant FX mutated at both N-glycosylation sites (rFXN181A–N191A) were evaluated. Biodistribution analysis of 125I-labelled FX proteins after administration to mice revealed liver as major target organ for all FX variants. Liver tissue sections analysis showed an interaction of pd-FX and N-degly-FX to different cell types. These findings were confirmed in cell binding studies revealing that FX and FX without N-glycans interact with macrophages and hepatocytes, respectively. N-degly-FX appeared to be degraded in hepatocytes while interestingly pd-FX was not by macrophages. Furthermore, the chemical inactivation of macrophages by gadolinium chloride resulted in a significant decrease of circulating pd-FX into mice and not of N-degly-FX. Altogether our data lead to the conclusion that FX interaction with macrophages through its N-glycans protects it from a rapid clearance explaining its relatively long circulatory half-life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this project was to study the function of O-glycosylations in von Willebrand factor (VWF) life cycle. In total, 14 different murine Vwf cDNAs mutated on one or several O-glycosylations sites were generated: 9 individual mutants, 2 doublets, 2 clusters and 1 mutant with all 9 murine glycosylation sites mutated (Del-O-Gly). We expressed each mutated cDNA in VWF deficient-mice by hydrodynamic injection. An immunosorbent assay with Peanut Agglutinin (PNA) was used to verify the O-glycosylation status. Wild-type (WT) VWF expressed by hepatocytes after hydrodynamic injection was able to bind PNA with slightly higher affinity than endothelial-derived VWF. In contrast, the Del-O-Gly VWF mutant did not bind PNA, demonstrating removal of O-linked glycans. All mutants displayed a normal multimeric pattern. Two mutants, Del-OGly and T1255A/T1256A, led to expression levels 50% lower than those induced by WT VWF and their half-life in vivo was significantly reduced. When testing the capacity of each mutant to correct the bleeding time of VWF-deficient mice, we found that S1486A, T1255A, T1256A and the doublet T1255A/T1256A were unable to do so. In conclusion we have shown that O-glycosylations are dispensable for normal VWF multimerization and biosynthesis. It also appears that some Oglycosylation sites, particularly the T1255 and T1256 residues, are involved in the maintenance of VWF plasma levels and are essential for normal haemostasis. As for the S1486 residue, it seems to be important for platelet binding as demonstrated in vitro using perfusion experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is critical for the in vivo survival of factor VIII (FVIII). Since FVIII half-life correlates with VWF-antigen pre-infusion levels, we hypothesized that VWF levels are useful to predict FVIII half-life. Methodology: Standardized half-life studies and analysis of pre-infusion VWF and VWF-propeptide levels were performed in a cohort of 38 patients with severe haemophilia A (FVIII <1 IU/ml), aged 15-44 years. Nineteen patients had blood-group O. Using multivariate linear regression-analysis (MVLR-analysis), the association of VWF-antigen, VWF-propeptide, age and body-weight with FVIII half-life was evaluated. Principal Findings: FVIII half-life was shorter in blood-group O-patients compared to non-O-patients (11.5±2.6 h versus 14.3±3.0 h; p = 0.004). VWF-antigen levels correlated with FVIII half-life considerably better in patients with blood-group non-O than O (Pearson-rank = 0.70 and 0.47, respectively). Separate prediction models evolved from MVLR-analysis for blood-group O and non-O patients, based on VWF-antigen and VWF/propeptide ratio. Predicted half-lives deviated less than 3 h of observed half-life in 34/38 patients (89%) or less than 20% in 31/38 patients (82%). Conclusion: Our approach may identify patients with shorter FVIII half-lives, and adapt treatment protocols when half-life studies are unavailable. In addition, our data indicate that survival of FVIII is determined by survival of endogenous VWF rather than VWF levels per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteolytic processing of von Willebrand factor (VWF) by ADAMTS13 metalloproteinase is crucial for normal hemostasis. In vitro, cleavage of VWF by ADAMTS13 is slow even at high shear stress and is typically studied in the presence of denaturants. We now show that, under shear stress and at physiological pH and ionic strength, coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) accelerates, by a factor of ≈10, the rate of specific cleavage at the Tyr1605-Met1606 bond in VWF. Multimer analysis reveals that FVIII preferentially accelerates the cleavage of high-molecular-weight multimers. This rate enhancement is not observed with VWF predenatured with 1.5 M guanidine. The ability of FVIII to enhance VWF cleavage by ADAMTS13 is rapidly lost after pretreatment of FVIII with thrombin. A FVIII derivative lacking most of the B domain behaves equivalently to full-length FVIII. In contrast, a derivative lacking both the B domain and the acidic region a3 that contributes to the high-affinity interaction of FVIII with VWF exhibits a greatly reduced ability to enhance VWF cleavage. Our data suggest that FVIII plays a role in regulating proteolytic processing of VWF by ADAMTS13 under shear stress, which depends on the high-affinity interaction between FVIII and its carrier protein, VWF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble von Willebrand factor (VWF) has a low affinity for platelet glycoprotein (GP) 1bα and needs immobilization and/or high shear stress to enable binding of its A1 domain to the receptor. The previously described anti-VWF monoclonal antibody 1C1E7 enhances VWF/GP1bα binding and recognizes an epitope in the amino acids 764–1035 region in the N-terminal D′D3 domains. In this study we demonstrated that the D′D3 region negatively modulates the VWF/GPIb-IX-V interaction; (i) deletion of the D′D3 region in VWF augmented binding to GPIbα, suggesting an inhibitory role for this region, (ii) the isolated D′D3 region inhibited the GPIbα interaction of a VWF deletion mutant lacking this region, indicating that intramolecular interactions limit the accessibility of the A1 domain, (iii) using a panel of anti-VWF monoclonal antibodies, we next showed that the D′D3 region is in close proximity with the A1 domain in soluble VWF but not when VWF was immobilized; (iv) destroying the epitope of 1C1E7 resulted in a mutant VWF with an increased affinity for GPIbα. Our results support a model of domain translocation in VWF that allows interaction with GPIbα. The suggested shielding interaction of the A1 domain by the D′D3 region then becomes disrupted by VWF immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For decades, numerous observations have shown an intimate relationship between von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimer profile and heart valve diseases (HVD). The current knowledge of the unique biophysical properties of VWF helps us to understand the longstanding observations concerning the bleeding complications in patients with severe HVD. Not only does the analysis of the VWF multimer profile provide an excellent evaluation of HVD severity, it is also a strong predictor of clinical events. Also of importance, VWF responds within minutes to any significant change in hemodynamic valve status, making it an accurate marker of the quality of surgical and transcatheter therapeutic interventions. The authors provide in this review a practical, comprehensive, and evidence-based framework of the concept of VWF as a biomarker in HVD, advocating for its implementation into the clinical decision-making process besides usual clinical and imaging evaluation. They also delineate critical knowledge gaps and research priorities to definitely validate this concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) modulates factor VIII (FVIII) clearance and the anti-FVIII immune response. Despite the high affinity that defines the FVIII/VWF interaction, association/dissociation kinetics dictates 2% to 5% FVIII being present as free protein. To avoid free FVIII when studying the FVIII-VWF complex in vivo, we designed a FVIII-nanobody fusion protein, with the nanobody part being directed against VWF. This fusion protein, designated FVIII-KB013bv, had a 25-fold higher affinity compared with B-domainless FVIII (BDD-FVIII) for VWF. In vitro analysis revealed full cofactor activity in 1-stage clotting and chromogenic assays (activity/antigen ratio 1.0 ± 0.3 and 1.1 ± 0.3, respectively). In vivo, FVIII-013bv displayed a twofold increased mean residence time compared with BDD-FVIII (3.0 hours vs 1.6 hours). In a tail clip-bleeding assay performed 24 hours after FVIII infusion, blood loss was significantly reduced in mice receiving FVIII-KB013bv vs BDD-FVIII (15 ± 7 μL vs 194 ± 146 μL; P = .0043). Unexpectedly, when examining anti-FVIII antibody formation in FVIII-deficient mice, the immune-response toward FVIII-KB013bv was significantly reduced compared with BDD-FVIII (1/8 vs 14/16 mice produced anti-FVIII antibodies after treatment with FVIII-KB013bv and BDD-FVIII, respectively). Our data show that a stabilized interaction between FVIII and VWF is associated with a prolonged survival of FVIII and a reduced immune response against FVIII. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beside its classical role in the coagulation cascade, coagulation factor X (FX) is involved in several major biological processes including inflammation and enhancement of virusinduced immune responses. We recently reported that the long circulatory half-life of FX is linked to its interaction with liver-resident macrophages. Importantly, we now observed that macrophages, but not undifferentiated monocytes, support this interaction. Using cell biology approaches with primary and THP1 -derived macrophages as well as transfected cells, we further identified the scavenger receptor type A member I (SR-AI) to be a macrophage-specific receptor for FX. This result was confirmed using SR-AI-deficient mice, which exhibit reduced circulating levels of FX in vivo and loss of FX-macrophage interactions in vitro. Binding studies using purified proteins revealed that FX binds specifically (half-maximal binding, 3 μg/mL) to the extracellular domain of SR-AI. Altogether, we demonstrate that macrophages regulate FX plasma levels in an SR-AI-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Platelet cross-linking during arterial thrombosis involves von Willebrand Factor (VWF) multimers. Therefore, proteolysis of VWF appears promising to disaggregate platelet-rich thrombi and restore vessel patency in acute thrombotic disorders such as ischemic stroke, acute coronary syndrome, or acute limb ischemia. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC, a clinically approved mucolytic drug) can reduce intrachain disulfide bonds in large polymeric proteins. In the present study, we postulated that NAC might cleave the VWF multimers inside occlusive thrombi, thereby leading to their dissolution and arterial recanalization.Methods: Experimental models of thrombotic stroke induced by either intra-arterial thrombin injection or ferric chloride application followed by measurement of cerebral blood flow using a combination of laser Doppler flowmetry and MRI were performed to uncover the effects of NAC on arterial thrombi. To investigate the effect of NAC on larger vessels, we also performed ferric chloride-induced carotid artery thrombosis. In vitro experiments were performed to study the molecular bases of NAC thrombolytic effect, including platelet aggregometry, platelet-rich thrombi lysis assays, thromboelastography (ROTEM), and high-shear VWF string formation using microfluidic devices. We also investigated the putative prohemorrhagic effect of NAC in a mouse model of intracranial hemorrhage induced by in situ collagenase type VII injection.Results: We demonstrated that intravenous NAC administration promotes lysis of arterial thrombi that are resistant to conventional approaches such as recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, direct thrombin inhibitors, and antiplatelet treatments. Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, we provide evidence that the molecular target underlying the thrombolytic effects of NAC is principally the VWF that cross-link platelets in arterial thrombi. Coadministration of NAC and a nonpeptidic GpIIb/IIIa inhibitor further improved its thrombolytic efficacy, essentially by accelerating thrombus dissolution and preventing rethrombosis. Thus, in a new large-vessel thromboembolic stroke model in mice, this cotreatment significantly improved ischemic lesion size and neurological outcome. It is important to note that NAC did not worsen hemorrhagic stroke outcome, suggesting that it exerts thrombolytic effects without significantly impairing normal hemostasis.Conclusions: We provide evidence that NAC is an effective and safe alternative to currently available antithrombotic agents to restore vessel patency after arterial occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]